Category Archives: Clubs

Lil Bullock tribute in 1965

Leave a reply

From the 1965 Mitcham Cricket Club yearbook:

THROUGHOUT the 300 years or so that cricket has been played on England’s village greens, practically all the pitches have been put down within a six-hit of a church. The fact that the local inn was usually within spitting distance is pure coincidence! But we
cricketers wouldn’t have it any other way . . .

Mitcham Green has been well served for many years by magnificent establishments like the King’s Head, The Cricketers, The White Hart and The Queen’s Head. But it is the King’s Head with which we are more concerned here for it houses the only female vice-president in the long history of the club – Mrs. Lilian Bullock, or, as she is known to the famous, the infamous and the nobodies — ‘Lil’.

Achievements

Since she came from enemy territory of Enfield, Middlesex, Lil’s acceptance into the world of Surrey cricket was in itself an achievement, but her association with Mitcham goes back 40-odd years to the days when her father was a baker and confectioner almost opposite the King’s Head, and Burn, her husband, was on the Surrey staff at the Oval.

Until his death in 1954, Burn was an active member of our club, being a vice-president, a life member and match secretary. It was undoubtedly his influence which propelled Lil into club activities.

Shortly after they met she attended her first club function, a meeting of the tea committee — and wound up chairman. Those were the days when a band of elegant ladies provided the food and then presented the club with a splendid marquee from the profits.

Burn & Lil took over the King’s Head in 1941 after his retirement from county cricket and coaching duties and Lil has become as big a part of Mitcham as the lavender itself! Her generosity is unbounded.

Great names have appeared on the Green – and in the King’s Head – because of the Wilson Hospital charity matches. Arranged by Burn and fed by Lil would be a fitting description for these fixtures!

Baseball – cricket

Once, in Burn’s absence, Lil arranged a game for a visiting crowd of American reporters against Monty Garland — Wells’ XI. They turned out in ordinary walking shoes, threw the bat away and ran after hitting the ball, broke a lamp on the Green and generally shattered the piece and reverence of an afternoon on the ‘sacred’ turf.

Those days are gone, but Lil’s affection for the club is reflected in the fact that she made her grandson, Nicholas Dawson, a member in 1961 when he was only 6 1/2 HOURS old!

Just the same

All good publicans put out the red carpet for their customers. When you walked into the King’s Head, Burn always made you feel that you were the very person he was hoping to see.

We still get the same welcome – except that now the greeting is a very cheery and very feminine “Hello darlings”. As I said before — we cricketers wouldn’t have it any other way.
R.H.

Mason’s Place

Leave a reply

Road off the west side of Turner’s avenue in Mitcham. Likely to have been named after Thomas A. Mason, who donated land at Tamworth Farm to Mitcham from which the Tamworth Farm Recreation Ground and allotments were created. The road is not listed in the 1925 street directory but it is likely to have been built before 1930, as it’s mentioned in a newspaper article that year, see below.

1973 OS map reproduced by permission of the National Library of Scotland, reuse CC-BY (NLS)

Houses are numbered odd on the south side from 1 to 11, then 13 and 15 on the end terrace, and even from 2 to 12 on the north side, then 14 and 16 on the end block.

From the Norwood News – Friday 15 August 1930

COLLIERS WOOD F.C.
Confident of Another Good Season.

The Woods were always an optimistic lot, and still hold their own in their particular class in spite of the pull of bigger clubs. a number of whom regard them a nursery for their senior players.

Quite a large number of good first-class players have been recruited from their ranks, but they still hold the nucleus of a good side. and this is the outcome of sticking to players. not only for playing ability, but also for sociability. which factor goes a long way towards keeping the club on a wild foundation.

Some of our men have turned down offers because of pals in the club, and that spirit keeps us financially sound and always in the first three or four of the League table. That same camaraderie also ensures our injured players of club support, which is a great consideration to strict amateurs.

Thanks to our president. Mr. Harry Cusden, and, his colleagues on the progressive Mitcham Council, our dressing accommodation is among the finest of any club in Surrey. and the ground is being gradually brought into first-class condition.

Our prospects are this season exceedingly good, and we hope to lift a “pot” or two. In the Surrey Intermediate we hope to go one better than last year, and win it.

We were not disgraced by being knocked out in the divisional final by the eventual winners, and the League is also within our capabilities. We have a few vacancies for real firstclass Intermediate and Juniors. particularly forwards.

We can field practically the same defence as last season with one great half-back improvement. The club have a team entered in the Premier Division, Wimbledon League. which will require strengthening in all positions. Would any good player desirous of joining a well-run , chummy club, communicate with the hon. sec., Mr. C. H. Lee. 9, Mason’s place, Turner-avenue. Mitcham. We are happy to state wo retain all our old and capable committee, and our trainer, Jim Bird.

Training is now in full swing, and we commence League fixtures at home on September 13. I am sure we all sympathise with Sonny Newhoose in his recent bereavement, the sudden loss of his much respected father. C. H. L.