Legends From The Past

 

Big Den Hales

The players of the 70s were able to lay claim to the honour of having been associated with Big Den. A few season before his sons' (David and Gary) tremendous knocks were the talk of the town, their charismatic father figured in a typically huricane knock, which was part of a quickfire 50-run partnership, during a 2nd XI game at Cookham Dean.

Nothing unusual in this, but its uniqueness lay in the fact that the contribution to this total by his partner (Ray Johnners Johnstone) was precisely one run, the other 49 flowing from our Dennis' heaving bat. The scene was set from the monet Dennis arrived at the crease. "Don't you want a guard?" enquired the umpire. "No thanks," replied Dennis, "I've played here before".

Poor Johnners was under orders from his partner to stay at the end of the awkward bowler, while Dennis massacred the bowler of his choice. Seeing Dennis had reached his forties while he had not even broken his duck, Johnners got increasingly desperate.

Eventually, seeing the strong possibility of another duck looming large, he belted the ball to long on and advanced down the pitch with a fixed glare directed at Denis, yelling "Coming for one". Dennis, muttering dark protestations, reluctantly stirred himself and ambled to the other end, indicating that this one act of condescension to a miserable wretch who could only hit a single, would not be repeated.

 

Others To Be Added Include:

John JR Richardson

The Deadly Ashworths, father and son

The Hales Storms (Sons of Big Den)

Cyril Timms: first to 100 wickets in a season

The Knowlson Family

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