Cricket lovers are in for a 'spell-binding and exhilarating evening' when journalist Grahame Lloyd visits the society in March. When Garry Sobers hit Malcolm Nash for six sixes off one over at Swansea in 1968, a cricketing Everest was finally conquered. And 38 years later history was made again when the ball supposedly smashed around the St Helen's ground was auctioned by Christie's for a world-record £26,400 ... except the ball was the wrong make, a Duke & Son and not a Stuart Surridge. After a six-year gap the ball re-emerged at another auction, prompting Grahame to launch Operation Howzat!, an 18-month quest for the truth about a key element of one of the game's most iconic moments. Featuring an interview with John Parkin, the batsman at the opposite end during the famous over, historic BBC TV footage of the Six Sixes, poetry and song, Grahame follows the trail from South Wales to India - encountering a host of colourful characters along the way and lifting the lid on the sometimes murky world of sports memorabilia.
Nominated for the 2014 MCC/Cricket Society Book the Year Award, Howzat? The Six Sixes Ball Mystery was published to rave reviews:
* 'a terrifically dotty whodunnit, driven by one man’s relentless, borderline-psychotic quest for answers' (Wisden)
* 'a terrifically dotty whodunnit, driven by one man’s relentless, borderline-psychotic quest for answers' (Wisden)
* 'the most original cricket book published in years' (cricketweb.net)
* 'a cracking read, unhesitatingly recommended' (Cricket Society)
* 'the product of diligent and disciplined investigative journalism…a compelling read' (ACS)
* 'a skilfully crafted and highly absorbing book…a triumph' (Backspin magazine).
Grahame's talk, presented to cricket societies across the UK, has attracted similar praise:
* 'a spell-binding and exhilarating evening' (Herefordshire)
* 'fascinating and interesting in equal measure' (Scotland)
* 'unusual and entertaining, very enjoyable all-round' (Chesterfield)
* 'over the last 50 years we have had some great speakers – none better than Grahame Lloyd & John Parkin' (Lincolnshire)
All welcome! Join at any meeting - £15 a year.
Spring special! Guests free (sample a meeting free of charge - normal entry £5).
Venue: Brewery Bar, King William IV, Hallgate, Cottingham HU16 4BD, 7.30pm for 7.45pm.
Spring special! Guests free (sample a meeting free of charge - normal entry £5).
Venue: Brewery Bar, King William IV, Hallgate, Cottingham HU16 4BD, 7.30pm for 7.45pm.
Raffle: £2/ticket. Prizes include tickets to watch County Champions Yorkshire CCC at Headingley in 2016.
For more information contact: ercsoc@gmail.com or call Maggie Sumner (01482 861848).
Next meeting: Wednesday 12 October 2016 - Dan Waddell, author of Field of Shadows: the English Cricket Tour of Nazi Germany 1937 and The Wit & Wisdom of Test Match Special.