In the late 70’s my school in Paddington were one of the first to use the indoor cricket nets at Lord’s. The head coach and the MCC secretary were men of significant strength and importance. If any human so much as put a foot on the sacred turf they would bellow their disapproval from an office high up in the pavilion. On this particular day I took a mixed group of students to the indoor school. Instead of having individual nets, It was decided that we should use the entire hall for a game. As we were about to start, a rather imposing gentleman appeared from the changing rooms in immaculate cricket whites. He approached the Head Coach and asked if he could join the game. I readily agreed to this request and he took up his position behind the stumps, keeping wicket for both teams. As the game progressed I wondered if my students, whose families came from various parts of the world, realised their wicket keeper had some twenty years before, played ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ ! As our game finished Peter O’ Toole thanked my students, and retired possibly to the nearest hostelry.
for both teams. As the game progressed I wondered if my students, whose families came from various parts of the world, realised their wicket keeper had some twenty years before, played ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ ! As our game finished Peter O’ Toole thanked my students, and retired possibly to the nearest hostelry.
