From The Archive - Autograph Hunting

Words: Dave Allen

I read recently that in the world of the fans of entertainment and sport, selfies are replacing autographs as the thing to request. If so, that will be a shame for the Archivists (and dealers) of the future, for the signatures of famous people tend to be treasured in a way that is less likely with photos of a top sportsman or film star standing alongside ‘Whatsisname?’

In Hampshire Cricket’s archives, we have a pretty substantial collection of autographs going back into the 19^th century and I don’t think many (if any) significant players are missing. In many cases we have multiple copies, often signed on significant scorecards, photographs, bats and even, in the case of Robin Smith, a batting glove.

Autographs are difficult to display, not least because unless written with modern implements like a Sharpie they will fade when exposed to the light for long periods. Some of the worst offenders are items signed in ‘Biros’ or ballpoint pens although fountain pen ink is not always secure. The trick, for display purposes, is to show a copy – with modern scanners and printers it is often difficult to discern the difference.

The example shown here on the homepage is from a small autograph book which we were given, and which once belonged to a lady Jean Cooke. It is full of signatures with sentimental or witty verses, and sometimes drawings by people she knew, very few of whom were famous – they are probably family friends or workmates and date back to 1919. On one page, she has the signature of Joe Beckett who adds “Best Wishes” and “Champion of England, 19 August 1922”. He was a Heavyweight boxer and interestingly she obtained his signature the day following the conclusion of Hampshire’s eight wicket victory over Worcestershire at the County Ground. I assume Jean saw some of that match since the signatures shown here are of that Hampshire side.

Alone on the title page is HS (Harry) Altham who scored 22 & 20 in the match without being dismissed. The Winchester schoolmaster had a modest county career but became a major figure in English cricket as an historian, Test selector and through his involvement with MCC and as President of Hampshire.

His captain Lionel Tennyson is opposite him and underneath a third amateur HLV Day, an army officer and England rugby international. The fourth amateur is 19-year-old batsman Percy Lawrie (bottom left) who played just 28 matches for the county from 1921-1928 but nonetheless, typical of the amateur/professional divide then was awarded his county cap on scoring his only century.

The other names should be familiar and hopefully recognisable. The great batsman Phil Mead and the great all-rounders Alec Kennedy and Jack Newman are there - Hampshire won this game mainly thanks to 97 and three wickets by Newman, and 6-42 and 67 by Kennedy.

There too is George Brown with a claim to being the ‘greatest all-rounder’; batsman, fast bowler and England wicketkeeper. Top right we see the very reliable batsman Alec Bowell from Oxford who passed 1,000 runs in eight seasons at Hampshire, while to the left is slow-left arm bowler GS (Stuart) Boyes, a local man and recent acquisition who would play on until county cricket was interrupted for a more serious contest after the 1939 season.

Finally, bottom right, is our wicketkeeper Walter Livsey, very nearly of England standard who just two months earlier had scored 110* at number ten in that historic encounter at Edgbaston when Hampshire recovered from 15 all out to beat Warwickshire by 155 runs. Nine of the men who signed these two pages in this little book, were in the Hampshire side that won that day.

The best way to catch the Hampshire squad at the The Ageas Bowl in 2020 is with a Hampshire Cricket Membership.

More information on each Membership offering can be found online at www.ageasbowl.com/membership, over the phone on 02380 472002 (Opt. 2) or in person at the The Ageas Bowl Ticket Office (Mon-Fri: 9am-5pm).