Over the years the club, bearing in mind its size has made a singular contribution to both the national game as well as to the Hertfordshire County Cricket.
Nationally Frank Chester the pre-eminent English umpire commenced his cricketing life as a fourteen year old with the club. At the age of 16 he signed up to play cricket for Worcestershire. The following year he had scored 3 centuries for the county. Tragically he lost an arm during the First World War. Subsequently he took up umpiring. Sir Don Bradman rated him as the greatest umpire under whom he had played. There can be no higher accolade than that! His son Tom was a core member of the club.
Tom Chester and Bill Bliss were mainly responsible for getting the club back on its feet after the Second World War. Frank Chester joined them as often as he could and kept members entertained with some of his recollections as well as his detailed knowledge.
Jack Young played for the club during the latter days of the Second World War prior to signing for Middlesex. Jack was an exceptionally good slow left arm bowler and played 12 times for England! On one time, and it may still be true, he had the distinction of bowling the most consecutive number of maiden overs in a Test match.
In Bob Simons beautifully researched book entitled Cricket in Hertfordshire he poses the following question “Which Club in Hertfordshire has provided four county captains, two honorary secretaries, the batsman with the second highest aggregate of runs, and the batsman with the highest average? It may come as a surprise many that the club is Bushey Cricket Club”.
For the benefits of out colts, and new members I thought it might be useful to list those who Bob Simons referred to, and who in their way contributed significantly to Hertfordshire Cricket:
C.E.Keyser 1876 - 1883
Herts County captain and later county secretary.
A.J. Golding 1897 - 1914
Prolific batsman scored 8428 and took 107 wickets for the county.
C.D.Fastnedge 1900 – 1902
Herts County captain.
H.M.Harford 1905 – 1912
Herts County captain.
G. Rollo Walker 1926 – 1936
Herts County batsman and Hon. Secretary.
F.C.DeSaram 1933 – 1936
Fantastic batsman scored 1959 runs for the County and had a batting average for Bushey in 1935 of 156.5 !
R.Watson 1934 – 1939
Very good fast bowler. Took 108 wickets for the County.
F.W.Collyer 1967 – 1987
The most successful county captain to date. He scored 4568 runs and was the regular wicket keeper. He also played for the Minor Counties, and played against every major touring side at least twice.
S.R.Ambrose 1969 – 1981
Most elegant left hand bat and fine fielder. Scored 2250 runs for the county.
Other notable players and members were :
W.Sobey circa 1940’s and 1950’s, Former club captain of the 1st XI and later president. Played rugby for Old Milhillians at scrum half, and also played for England and the British Lions in New Zealand.
C.Townsend circa 1950’s, Represented England Amateur football in excess of seventy times.
Bob Howfield circa 1950, Played professional football for Watford, Charlton, and Luton.
Andrew Quick circa 1950, Fast Bowler who played for the R.A.F during national service, and opened the bowling for them I believe, with a certain Fred Trueman.
Jim Denham circa 1950 – A superb wicket keeper, Jim also played rugby for Bristol at full back, and was awarded an England trial but fractured his knee cap, and therefore missed the trial. It was felt by many but for the injury he would have played for England. He then went to New Zealand, and kept wicket for Wanganui. On his return he played for Somerset II’s.
Colin Casemore joined the club in the 1970’s and played as an opening bat for the club. Colin was also a high class cover point, and regularly played for Berkshire.
Based on the foregoing my wish as President would be to see the club regain it’s playing strength, and provide county players again in the not too distant future.
James McCall has made a big start by resurrecting the colts. It is imperative that the club members give him all their help and support. These boys will be the future life blood of the club.
Short term I wish all the members a happy, enjoyable, and successful season.
I expect to see the club play the game strictly in accordance with the laws. I expect to see the captains ensure that out discipline is maintained, and I expect to see all the Bushey players thank the umpires who have officiated at the game at the end.
I would also on behalf of the club express our thanks to our landlord Three Valleys Water Company for their help and generosity over the period of tenancy, and with particular reference to the last three years.