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The Post War Years (1947-1960)
One Team
After seven years of inactivity as a result of the 1939-45 war and its aftermath, Chipping Sodbury Cricket Club staged a modest comeback. It was decided to operate one team only, initially, although there was plenty of enthusiasm among the players.
The Club played its first match since 1939 at The Ridings on May 17th, 1947 defeating Pro-Cathedral C.C. by 90 runs.
The New Pavilion
The winter of 1948-49 saw feverish activity at The Ridings. The reason? A new pavilion, which had been acquired to replace the old stone-built one, was under construction. Thanks to their efforts, the Club had an attractive new pavilion by the time the 1949 season started and on whit Monday the members with their families and friends gathered in force to witness the opening ceremony, which was performed by the Club president (Major L. Montague Harris).
As a result of the acquisition and the re-laying of the square with Mendip turf, an expenditure of £264, was reported at the annual meeting in February 1949.
The Fifties
Lionel Higgins performed the " hat trick " against Oakleigh on August 9th, 1952 and in the last match of the season against Thornbury on the Ship ground at Alveston on September 2nd, Chipping Sodbury avenged an earlier defeat, though, in fairness, it should be mentioned that it was almost dark towards the end of Thornbury's innings and the street lights were on in the Ship drive!
John Binks played some fine innings for the Club in 1953 and it was towards the end of the season that Cliff Monks (captain of Gloucestershire 2nd XI at that time) started to play again for Chipping Sodbury at a period when the Club had lost the services of a number of first-team men of the immediate post-war years with the result that some lean times were experienced.
First Century
The first post-war century by a Chipping Sodbury player was scored by Cliff Monks on the Erinoid ground at Stroud on July 31st, 1954 in just under two hours. Monks and Wally Lewis (73) put on 152 for the third wicket enabling a declaration at 189 for 4 to which Erinoid replied with 128 for 6.
By the end of the 1954 season, a new toilet block had been completed at the rear of the pavilion and consideration was being given to the question of having a licensed bar in the pavilion, thereby adding to the facilities at The Ridings. But these additions, improvements and annual commitments, as always, cost money and one novel way was found towards raising the necessary cash to re-paint the pavilion.
Whenever two Chipping Sodbury Club members met for a drink-whether it was tea or beer-the cup or glass had to be held in the left hand. A right- handed drinker was fined 3d (15p) a sip! This scheme was so profitable that when the Hon. treasurer presented his balance sheet at the annual meeting on October 19th, 1954, he was able to report receipts totalling £1 10s. from "right-handers' penalties."
A Busy Winter
During the 1954-55 winter, work went ahead with the conversion of the old pavilion into a tea-room and kitchen; a ladies' committee was formed, primarily to be responsible for arranging teas at home matches; the interior of the pavilion was altered to accommodate the bar; a bitu-turf practice wicket was laid down; a second-hand set of gang mowers was purchased and a car park provided.
In 1955, Reg Quinlan joined Chipping Sodbury at the age of 16 and in his very first match against Harris's XI at The Ridings on May 14th he performed a remarkable bowling feat by taking five wickets in seven balls (including the "hat trick ") without conceding a run and finished with 7 for 22.
More Additions
By the start of the 1956 season, a Nissen hut had been purchased to accommodate the ever-increasing items of Club equipment. The erection of this building was not without incident as two 1960's committee members will readily recall.
The framework had been methodically placed in position and the construction party were having a brief pause in their labours to admire their handiwork when along came a gust of wind and the entire structure collapsed to the ground!
A towing vehicle-in the form of an ex-W.D. 15 cwt. truck-was also acquired as a temporary measure to haul the gang mowers around the outfield; and the value of the Nissen hut soon became apparent as further equipment was purchased.
By the start of the 1957 season, a generating set had been purchased and installed in the Nissen hut at The Ridings and the old paraffin lamps were replaced by electric lighting. The wooden fence, which enclosed the cricket ground, was removed and Chipping Sodbury Town Trust generously agreed to provide concrete posts and wire to replace it, the work being undertaken by Club members.
While the players were taking tea at The Ridings on Sunday, August 18th, 1957, smoke was seen coming from the rear door of the visitors' dressing room in the pavilion. Sandwiches and cakes were hurriedly forgotten as the alarm was raised and white-flannelled "firemen " successfully employed the hose pipe (normally used for operating the sprinkler on the square) before any real damage was done.
A Fourth XI
In view of the increased playing membership it was decided at the annual meeting on November 26th, 1957, to introduce an extra Sunday XI and this meant that, for the first time in its history, the Club would be operating four teams.
Chipping Sodbury Club members were thrilled with the news on June 18th, 1958, from Leeds where Gloucestershire were playing Yorkshire. Graham Wiltshire took 7 Yorkshire wickets for 52 runs and finished off their innings with the "hat trick" A telegram congratulating him on his fine performance arrived in the Gloucestershire dressing room next morning from his colleagues at Chipping Sodbury.
And so to Centenary Year, which was ceremoniously heralded at midnight on New Year's Eve during the course of the annual dance at the Town Hall - and Chipping Sodbury Cricket Club's 100th anniversary was duly toasted by the members present.
That was 1960, a long time ago now. Nowadays the club's history (post 2002) is documented to a high standard by CSCC's very own website, which over a season provides a mountain of historical information.
Unfortunately there is still a passage of time from 1960 to 2000 which still hasn't been documented. In due course we hope this will happen.
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