The Bluemantle Pursuivant hosted Bluemantle cricketers past and present at the 160th anniversary of the Club at a drinks reception on 11th April 2022.
The event took place on at the College of Arms in the shadow of St. Pauls, and marked a momentous occasion in the history of the Bluemantle’s CC.
Mark Scott, Bluemantle Pursuivant, gave a gracious and amusing welcome speech to all present, and then introduced the Club’s President, Nigel Wheeler to say a few words.
The President regaled us with an animated history of the Bluemantle’s CC since 1862, and whilst lamenting that much of the Club’s documents were destroyed by fire when the Nevill Ground Pavilion was burned to the ground in 1913, he respected the irony of it being the Suffragettes who had set fire to it.
It was a jovial evening for which we thank Nick Ogden, Chairman, for his careful and thorough organisation as ever, and Mark Scott, Bluemantle Pursuivant, for hosting us so ceremoniously in the historic birthplace of The Club.
The Bluemantle Pursuivant, and Patron of our Club, Mark Scott, has brought our attention to the October newsletter of the College of Arms. Inside there is a reference to Bob and Rupert Bairamian, and the origination of the Bairamian coat of arms. You can see the full piece on this page:
Vice President Paddy Butler and Kent County Cricket Club committee member standing proudly on the player’s balcony at Edgbaston with the 2021 Vitality Blast trophy.
Under the watchful eye of our Patron, the Bluemantle Pursuivant himself and gratefully liberated from the shackles of lockdown, a young and vibrant gathering of keen cricketers assembled at the Nevill Ground to lock horns with familiar opponents from across the land.
The evils of Coronavirus may have been thwarted by the needles of the NHS, but the weather gods were not so kind as treacherous rain clouds hovered above Tunbridge Wells for much of the week, their contents accounting for the first day’s play, scuppering the match against the Band of Brothers.
The redoubtable Old Amplefordians arrived at the ground on the Tuesday to play the first game of the week. Chairman Ogden added to the excitement by announcing that this was the 70th anniversary of the fixture as the players were about to take the field. Pleasingly the game itself resulted in a victory for the home side, the most notable batting performance coming from Richard Calver (84) in setting the OAs 204 to win. Some disciplined bowling from the BMs ensured the target was not reached, with a brace of wickets each for Rothery, Pullen, Jackson and Ogden T, the latter having mutated into an off spinner over lockdown.
Emeriti were next to make the pilgrimage, thankfully with no overnight rain to delay proceedings. Batting first, the visitors plodded along, assiduously sticking to their task for 54.3 overs, tested in the main by Sam Huggett and Nico Chu who took 3-35 and 3-40 respectively. Chasing 181 for a second consecutive win of the week, the BMs lost their first game in four years, bowled out for 146 in just under 36 overs. Bailey Wightman, who had appeared for Kent earlier in the season as a medium pacer from Adelaide, held Emeriti at bay with a dogged 41 from 61 balls, with only Toby Pullen and the young Chu providing further resistance with 42 and 23. Nevertheless, we were grateful for an uninterrupted day and the company of three generations of the Pullen family. Bar takings were up on the day.
The new Bairamian Plaque
For those Bluemantles with a knowledge of the club’s history, the Thursday was the day to look forward to when a commemorative plaque was to be unveiled on the wall of the Bluemantle Stand, honouring our lifelong friends, Bob and Rupert Bairamian. Fittingly, Chairman Ogden had chosen the match against the Stragglers of Asia for the ceremony, Bob and Rupert being such distinguished servants of both clubs. Dozens of friends and family gathered for the day, bringing picnics, memories and laughter as the grey and receding watched the young and hopeful take the field for a 40 over match with the BMs batting first.
Nothing could have been more encouraging for the future of BM cricket than the performances of Finn Tomlinson (77), Ted Paice (27 in 27 balls) and Will Daniels (1-25 and a massive six to greet the arrival of his Grandfather, Carl Openshaw!). All three played with a maturity beyond their tender years, with batsmen Tomlinson and Paice showing patience and aggression when required, and Daniels, aged 15, bowling with pace and control. Off the field, touching speeches by Club President Nigel Wheeler and Justin Bairamian, son and brother of Bob and Rupie, brought a downpour of both rain and Pol Roger as the day’s cricket was brought to an early close.
Sadly, more overnight precipitation meant the ground was unfit for play and the final game of the week against the Moose CC was abandoned.
This week of cricket, after so much disruption to our daily lives, reminds us of what we have to look forward to and enjoy. This wonderful ground, club and game allow us the privilege of friendship, competitive sport and humour. Bibulous lunches, our tummies stoked by Charlotte Burrough’s wholesome fodder, the reassuring presence of the Bluemantle and his Politburo of Wheeler, Ogden, Butler, Burrough and Atkinson and the knowledge that whatever Wuhan may throw at us, Bluemantle Week is to be cherished.
Justin Baraimian will be unveiling The Bluemantles’ memory to Bob and Rupert Baraimian at The Nevill Ground during the tea interval on Thursday Aug 5th 2021. It will be at around 4pm during the Bluemantle’s match against the Stragglers of Asia.
Please join us in raising a glass of Champaign to Bob and Rupert.
T.O.M.Simpson sadly passed away on 25th September aged 91.
Before coming to teach at Holmewood House School and representing the Bluemantle’s Cricket Club, he played for M.C.C and Esher CC
In the history of Esher CC celebrating their centenary in 1963, it states ….
‘The three years of Crouch captaincy marked the rise of J.A.Harrison and T.O.M.Simpson both powerful strikers of the ball – left and right respectively, the latter scoring his one thousand runs in 1957 and 1959’.
He first played for Esher in 1946 and had 62 innings amassing over 8000 runs at an average of 25.08.
Neil Benedict, who was coached by Tom, writes… ‘I first met Tom in the late 50’s when he ran the Esher Colts – his enthusiasm along with his schoolmasterly and authoritative style, contributed to a happy and fun environment. When I was in the Eastbourne College X1, it was lovely to watch and play against him representing the MCC in the 1960’s. He played a very positive effect on my life during this period, which I very much appreciated.’
Ted Rose, a distinguished member of The Bluemantle’s writes…
‘He was a Cambridge Crusader — he always wore the cap — and was a useful, uncomplicated, correct and attractive bat. He was also a revered schoolmaster. In his retirement he spent many hours reading to hospital patients.’
‘The one thing I can tell you is that I ran him out to finish his last ever innings! It was in the BM week and I had opened the batting in the morning. Tom came in at number three and we had a decent partnership up until lunch. I don’t know how many Tom made, but it must have been 40 or 50.’
‘Anyhow, I faced the first ball after lunch, eased it into the gap in the covers and trotted off for a gentle single. Tom had managed to get half-way down the pitch when he let out a howl of pain and pulled up with a torn hamstring.’
‘He enjoyed recounting afterwards, omitting his injury, that I had run him out in his last ever innings! – Lovely bloke.’
It was a belter of a week on the Nevill Ground for Bluemantle Week 2020. And that applies both to the temperature and the runs scored. COVID19 restrictions meant the matches were reduced to 40-over affairs starting at 1pm (12:30 on Friday), and yet there were no fewer than 6 centurions in the week, and 8 further batsmen scoring above 50. Every day was a run-fest on the flat and parched earth of the Nevill Ground.
The Bluemantle (left) with respected members of the Bluemantle’s Old Guard.
Charlie Hobden, who scored 184 not out against the Stragglers of Asia
The victorious Bluemantles team with the Bairamian Cup following their defeat of The Moose CC
Ed Miller, captain of the Bluemantle’s, with the Bairamian Cup
Club President, Nigel Wheeler makes a short address before awarding the Bairamian Cup to The Bluemantles, Friday 7th August.
Willy Boulter and Paddy Butler
Charlotte Burrough providing valuable subsistence to the players.
This year (2020) all Bluemantles matches will start at 13:00 and will be 40-overs per side.
Before coming to play cricket during Bluemantles Week, please be sure to read the ECB’s guidelines on Before/During/After, and Socially Distanced Cricket:
James Peill, our present Bluemantle, secured this fixture for us with the Goodwood Cricket Club, the Estate, the Duke, the Earl and the ‘chief’ of cricket Richard Geffen. A 40-over match was played and a high degree of competence was displayed by both sides. read on →...
On 19th April, in perfect spring sunshine, Ted Rose and Nigel Herbert eased to victory in the Bluemantle's spring foursomes held at Piltdown Golf Club. read on →...
On June 19th we played our traditional match against Piltdown Golf Club and the photo of both teams appears above. We have been playing a match against Piltdown since 1974 and before that we used to hold read on →...
This year, the King has appointed a new Bluemantle, James Peill, following the promotion of Mark Scott to Somerset Herald of Arms. James’ previous roles include a Director at Christie’s and Curator of the Goodwood Collection. He read on →...
It is with a sense of deep sadness that we say goodbye to one of the club’s most loyal and popular stalwarts, Rupert Bairamian, who died after a short illness in Sydney on Saturday 28th November 2020. read on →...
A Tribute to Bob
See and read the highlights from a Service of Thanksgiving held in memory of Bob Bairamian on 28th September, 2018.
