THE 16 CRICKET CLUB 1947 TO 1978
By Bryan
The cricket club played an important part in the family history and was at one time its social centre. The name, I am reliably informed, came about because eight friends, some of whom were from one family, enjoyed a knockabout at Mottingham playing fields. They met up with eight other cricketers who played there as well and got together to form a club. The XVI Cricket Club was born.
Members who were regular players at the time were Derek, Ken, George and John.F. Jack would also play when required. Maisie who was the official scorer and kept immaculate records for many years represented the female side of the family.
Other members of the club who played were Bill.J, Bill,S, Dougie, Bill.U, Bert (who was the first president), John.P, Bill.G and Les. Members who subsequently joined the club and then became great friends included Harry, Bill.M, Frank, Alan, Neil, Keith, Terry and Graham.
As time went by some sons of the original members played for the Club. These were David, Bryan, Graham.F, Bobby, Terry.S and Bruce.
Initially the club became the hub of the member’s social life. Not only was an annual Dinner and Dance held which was a very posh black tie affair. There were also regular dances held at a local pub. Times were very non-PC and the women of the club would supply the food and act as cloakroom attendants. All the money raised at the dances went towards the running of the club.
I am not sure what went on at these dances but on one notable occasion, Dot and Ken had to impersonate each other getting undressed. Everyone thought it was very realistic but were a bit concerned, as they were not married at the time.
Club members would go to the 'nets' on a Tuesday and retire afterwards to the 'Porky' for a well-earned pint.
As the younger members grew up they were allowed to go to the dinners, The resident band, ‘Cyril Bodkin,’ supplied music and a cabaret would take place during the interval. This was the one regular gathering of the year when all members young and old and their families got together.
The club played its cricket on a social basis and whilst it was nice to win it was not the most important thing. There were many special times and some great friendships were formed.
To give a flavour of the times, I can recollect two occasions and by chance Graham.F is involved in both of them. The first happened when I bowled a ball to a batsman who put it to the leg side boundary. Everybody turned to see if Graham (who was fielding there) could stop it. Graham was doing an impression of a 1960's wrestler exciting the crowd with a chorus of 'EASY' 'EASY' as the ball went past him. The batsman turned to the umpire and asked what he was doing, the umpire replied, "I think he’s swatting flies." Everybody except me thought it was hilarious.
On the other occasion, we were playing the Midland Bank, a very prestigious fixture as we were well out of their league. The match was ending with us needing 11 runs with 9 wickets down. Graham was the last man in and as he strode to the wicket everybody got ready to accept a glorious defeat. Three balls later Graham had hit 3 boundaries and won the game. The barman bought everyone a drink as it had given him so much pleasure to see his team lose.
As the younger members took control of the club new ideas were put forward and it was decided that instead of the cabaret at the dinner, Graham should do a half hour DJ spot. This nearly caused a riot with one guest running onto the stage and pulling the plug from his deck. Perhaps in hindsight the first record played could have been better picked. It was, "Play that Funky Music White Boy."
The first (not in its picture here) Pikehand was presented at the dinner with Ray being the recipient. It was also at the dinner that the Pikes stripped to their waist, keeping on their ties and did the Pike limbo. This both shocked and gained admiration from their parents, as this was the first time the pre-Pikes collectively relied on each other. It was also at the dinner that the first arrangements to meet once a year were made.
The XVI Cricket Club folded in 1978 with the last game being played at the YMCA ground at Mottingham. We went out with a win on a glorious September Sunday. We batted first and made 120 runs. Our opponents, who I believe were the West Wickham Cricket Club, batted for a half hour before tea and made 20 runs for the loss of two wickets. I, the last Captain of the Club bowled six of their batsmen out for 8 or 9 runs for an overwhelming victory. I could tell more tales about this match and if anyone is interested, please ask.
THE 16 CRICKET CLUB 1947 TO 1978
By Dave
At the end of the second world war, men, some of whom where friends at that time, using the Porcupine pub in Mottingham were demobbed, it was here that they decided to set up a cricket club.
Among the original members were Derek, Ken, (I’m not sure if Jack and John were original sixteen members), Bill.J, Douggie, Bill.S, Bill.G, George and others who I cannot remember.
Over the years the club built up a useful fixture list. Many of our older competitors were still our opponents until the club disbanded in the 1970s.
As the children of the original members grew up they followed their fathers into the team, including David, Bryan, Graham, Bobby, Terry and Brian, together with the sons of newer members like Bruce.
Cricket Practice was held on a Tuesday evening, and it was from this that Frank joined the club. Other stalwarts included Alan.
The team had many highs and lows, and never many more than sixteen playing members. There was a very large social aspect to the club. Every year, a dinner and dance was held, which regularly attracted over two hundred people, and a cup was presented to the player of the year.
Some of the regular fixtures were against Mottingham, The Old Brockleans, Swanscombe, Parkside. (Perhaps Bryan can provide more detail)
Presidents of the club included George.L, George.M and Bill.J.
THE 16 CRICKET CLUB 1947 TO 1978
An edit by Alan
Introduction
The XVI cricket club was an important part of the family’s history. In the early days strong post war friendships were formed, brothers and sisters from different local families met, and for some those initial encounters led to marriage. In the later years the club dinner and dances enabled the family and friends now widespread to meet annually to enjoy themselves and celebrate both the club’s significance to them in earlier days and to spend time with each other in convivial company.
The origins
At the end of the Second World War members of the family were gradually demobbed (some of whom where just friends at that time). They used to imbibe at the Porcupine pub in Mottingham and it was here one evening that they decided to set up their own cricket club.
There were sixteen original members, so it was called the Sixteen Cricket Club. They were Derek, Ken, Bill.J, Douggie, Bill.S, Bill.G, George, Bert, Bill.U, Les, Harry and Jimmy.
Cricket practice was held on a Tuesday evening, and it was from this that Bill.M, Frank and other stalwarts like Alan joined the club. George.W was wicket keeper. Were Jack and John in the original sixteen? They started playing in 1947, and used Mottingham Playing fields as their home ground.
The middle years
Over the years the club built up a useful fixture list, many of the teams such as Mottingham, The Old Brockleans, Swanscombe, and Parkside being played right up to the disbandment of the club. Some sons of the original members followed their fathers into the team – these were David, Bryan, Graham.F, Bobby, Terry and Brian, together with the sons of newer members like Bruce. Presidents of the club included George, Bert, George and Bill.J.
The dinner and dances
The team had many highs and lows, and rarely had more than sixteen playing members. There was a very important social aspect to the club. Every year a dinner and dance was held that regularly attracted over two hundred people. A cup was presented to the player of the year.
The contribution to the establishment of the Pikehands
The dinner and dance became a very important opportunity for the younger cousins in the family to meet with each other, some of whom now lived outside of London. It was here that the first Pikehand of the Year was presented and the infamous spontaneous Pike limbo took place that managed to both shock parents and gain their admiration for its audacity. That was the first time that the pre-Pike cousins collectively relied on each other.
The final years
Bryan was the last captain.
Many thanks to Alan for editing this with contributions from Dave, Bryan, Val and Peggy.W, "Not Related." Bryan is the Pikehand researching this part of the Family History. Any photos or documents would be useful.