The Slaugham Archive
Handcross cricketers at Ashfold SchoolFollowing a match in 1956 between Staplefield cricket club and Ashfold School at their new home in a village close to Aylesbury another match was arranged for 17th June 1962. The first match is covered on picture #1660.
The team from Sussex comprised players from both Handcross, Staplefield and elsewhere, amd, as such, the team was described at Mr Ray’s XI in the score book.
Several players cannot be identified, but perhaps somebody can offer some names.
The Large Version shows a numbered version.
1 Basil Wilkinson (coach driver), 2 Roger Ray (capt), 3 Ken Doggett, 4 Dick Sykes (Ashfold captain), 5 Joe Ray, 6 Jim Brown, 7 A. Yardy (see note below), 8 David Mitchell.
According the Rex Ray the young player numbered 7 was the son of a gardener at Nymans and lived in the estate cottages opposite North Lodge. He was an accomplished player and Rex can recall that he scored about 90 runs in a match against Cuckfield.
Of the names in the scorebook which I could not identify in the picture the name Yardy stood out as a Michael Yardy played for Sussex and England early this century. Knowing that many cricketers come from family dynasties I surmised that the young cricketer may be from the same family!
Select Open Document to view two pages from the scorebook.
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Open Document
Picture added on 08 June 2018 at 09:45
This picture is in the following groups
Schools - Handcross - Ashfold School
Schools - Handcross - Ashfold School
Back row, 3rd from left is my Dad, Fred Olley. As always, in a collar and tie.
Added by Diana Choudhary on 08 August 2020
The young man with open collar, left of number 3, is Crispin Graves.
He was with Harrison and Sykes at Ashfold in Handcross, made the move to Dorton in 1955 (his wife Elizabeth provided a considerable portion of the money to purchase Dorton House), and later became Headmaster of the school.
Crispin was an extremely good player and a cricketing fanatic; the whole regime of Ashfold School yielded to the cricket schedules each summer and he ensured a very high level of achievement amongst the boys. Any prospective master applying to the school had a distinctive advantage if they let it be known they could wield a bat effectively!
This photograph was taken on the North Terrace of Dorton House (Ashfold School); the window behind this group is of the English Room, which, in the C18th and C19th, the house’s dining room.
He was with Harrison and Sykes at Ashfold in Handcross, made the move to Dorton in 1955 (his wife Elizabeth provided a considerable portion of the money to purchase Dorton House), and later became Headmaster of the school.
Crispin was an extremely good player and a cricketing fanatic; the whole regime of Ashfold School yielded to the cricket schedules each summer and he ensured a very high level of achievement amongst the boys. Any prospective master applying to the school had a distinctive advantage if they let it be known they could wield a bat effectively!
This photograph was taken on the North Terrace of Dorton House (Ashfold School); the window behind this group is of the English Room, which, in the C18th and C19th, the house’s dining room.
Added by Graham Beard on 23 February 2021
The white-haired man with glasses iss Mr Critchley, the carpentry master.
Added by Diana Choudhary on 23 February 2021
Jim Harrison, Ashfold's headmaster, is bottom row, first left. Crispian Graves is behind him.
On Dick Sykes's left is Charles Conroy.
Behind Roger Ray is the ubiquitous Fred Olley!
Frank Critchley, not only the school carpentry master but shooting and swimming coach, is the gentleman with specs and white hair. He was a true gentleman.
On Dick Sykes's left is Charles Conroy.
Behind Roger Ray is the ubiquitous Fred Olley!
Frank Critchley, not only the school carpentry master but shooting and swimming coach, is the gentleman with specs and white hair. He was a true gentleman.
Added by William Sykes on 13 March 2021
I remember well all those mentioned by Diana, Graham and Will Sykes.
The gentleman next to Crispian Graves looks vaguely like Louis Creed although I think he was younger.
The gentleman next to Crispian Graves looks vaguely like Louis Creed although I think he was younger.
Added by Tim Cecil (Australia) on 26 March 2021
It's wonderful to stumble across this splendid photograph.
They were a wonderful team of inspirational teachers.
What wonderful days they were.
They were a wonderful team of inspirational teachers.
What wonderful days they were.
Added by Michael Ness on 28 March 2021
Open the document and view the scorecard for some further memories.
Crispin Graves in fine batting form (not out 31) and the Ashfold team filled out by some boys in the school team at the time such as Anthony Sykes, Alastair Spackman, and Andrew Stewart.
I recognise the name of Guntripp as a local lad who hit the ball around the ground on occasions like a "village blacksmith".
Crispin Graves in fine batting form (not out 31) and the Ashfold team filled out by some boys in the school team at the time such as Anthony Sykes, Alastair Spackman, and Andrew Stewart.
I recognise the name of Guntripp as a local lad who hit the ball around the ground on occasions like a "village blacksmith".
Added by Thomas Bradshaw (better known as Gustaf) on 29 March 2021
I taught French, football and cricket at Ashfold School from 1965 to 1967.
I met my wife there; she was an assistant matron who had come to England from Switzerland to learn English. We were married within six months of meeting, but had to leave the school through lack of married accommodation.
From the photograph I can recognise Dick Sykes, the headmaster, Crispin Graves, who was deputy head during my time there, Louis Creed (Creedo) who is on Crispin's left, and Messrs Critchlow and Olly, though, strangely, I never knew their first names!
I met my wife there; she was an assistant matron who had come to England from Switzerland to learn English. We were married within six months of meeting, but had to leave the school through lack of married accommodation.
From the photograph I can recognise Dick Sykes, the headmaster, Crispin Graves, who was deputy head during my time there, Louis Creed (Creedo) who is on Crispin's left, and Messrs Critchlow and Olly, though, strangely, I never knew their first names!
Added by Terry Stephens on 12 December 2022
I remember Terry Stevens and his future wife from Switzerland.
When lining boys up for their (free) milk she would shout: "VUN AT A TIME".
That pronunciation of One is still used in our family today!
When lining boys up for their (free) milk she would shout: "VUN AT A TIME".
That pronunciation of One is still used in our family today!
Added by Will Sykes on 15 December 2022
I remember so much happiness from Ashfold School; from playing with Will and Antony Sykes in their nursery while my Mum, Vera Olley, worked; to going with Will, his Mum and Antony to get the Christmas tree from Cuckfield.
That was when Ashfold School was in Handcross. Such a beautiful place. I keep promising myself that, as my youngest daughter is at Brighton University, instead of driving past Handcross slip road I will go down it to Handcross village.
Then we moved to Dorton. Not quite so lovely as old Ashfold but still full of happy memories of everyone.
I have been back there a few times to let the kids see where we lived, and the headmaster kindly allows us to wander about the house. It’s all a bit changed now but stil resonates with all the boys' voices, especially outside the dining room where the boys lined up for dinner. Ashfold was my parents' life.
We joined the school in Handcross in the early 1950s. Rose Hickman was the cook there which was the reason why we came to the school. She was my Dad's sister.
I hope I haven’t bored you too much, but my family hold a lot of love for Ashfold's memories.
Have a lovely Christmas everyone. x
That was when Ashfold School was in Handcross. Such a beautiful place. I keep promising myself that, as my youngest daughter is at Brighton University, instead of driving past Handcross slip road I will go down it to Handcross village.
Then we moved to Dorton. Not quite so lovely as old Ashfold but still full of happy memories of everyone.
I have been back there a few times to let the kids see where we lived, and the headmaster kindly allows us to wander about the house. It’s all a bit changed now but stil resonates with all the boys' voices, especially outside the dining room where the boys lined up for dinner. Ashfold was my parents' life.
We joined the school in Handcross in the early 1950s. Rose Hickman was the cook there which was the reason why we came to the school. She was my Dad's sister.
I hope I haven’t bored you too much, but my family hold a lot of love for Ashfold's memories.
Have a lovely Christmas everyone. x
Added by Diana Choudhary on 15 December 2022