“Doug and The Don” is a special exhibition being launched by the CC4 Museum of Welsh Cricket on National Sporting Heritage Day, 30 September 2022 which celebrates the friendship between two men at the opposite ends of the cricketing spectrum – Doug Davies, a genial club cricketer in South Wales and Sir Don Bradman, the world’s finest-ever batter and an Australian sporting icon.
“The Don was Doug’s cricketing hero, “explains Dr. Andrew Hignell, the Curator of the CC4 Museum of Welsh Cricket at Glamorgan Cricket’s headquarters at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff. “For nigh on fifty years, the pair exchanged letters, with their friendship starting when Doug did a sketch of the Australian cricketer and sent it to him for The Don to sign.”
“Doug, like his father before him, was a talented artist, and to Doug’s delight he had several opportunities to meet up with The Don and personally handover these sketches to the world’s greatest-ever batter. They also shared a love of music so their letters were about more things than just cricket.”
“We are thrilled that Doug has decided to donate all of these letters, and many of his sketches, to the CC4 Museum of Welsh Cricket as they tell a wonderful and heart-warming story about the two men and their families. The items have also been carefully conserved by specialist staff at Glamorgan Archives as well as conservation students from Cardiff University who have been on placement with us over the course of the past few months.”
Dr Justine Reilly, Director and Founder of Sporting Heritage, the CIC behind the national awareness day adds: “National Sporting Heritage Day is a brilliant opportunity to share and celebrate sporting stories, memorabilia, memories and artefacts across all spectrums of the sporting landscape. The ‘Doug and The Don’ exhibition is a wonderful and unique chance to enjoy previously unseen and unheard sporting heritage that played a huge role in the friendship and lives of these two remarkable men.”
A few of the letters which the pair exchanged are included in this special Exhibition, together with Doug’s sketches and photographs of his own playing career as well as visits to Wales by The Don with the Australian touring teams during the 1930s and 1940s. The Exhibition also includes a special film interview with Doug, explaining how his friendship with The Don began and flourished over the years. In addition, there is a second film using a special audio recording made in 1987 which The Don made for Glamorgan Cricket’s Centenary Year celebrations and their Gala Dinner at Lord’s, with The Don reflecting on his visits to Wales for games against Glamorgan.
“We are delighted that this wonderful material will form one of the showcase Exhibitions on National Sporting Heritage Day,” added Dr. Hignell. “We know that a lot of people will want to see these fascinating items and films.”
Given the large number of visitors already booked to visit the Museum during the coming weeks, anyone wishing to view this Exhibition is encouraged to book in advance by sending an email to museum@glamorgancricket.co.uk.
Slots are currently available between 1400 and 1630 on the following dates – October 5, 7, 12, 21, 24 and 27, plus November 3, 4, 15, 16, 22 and 24.
Further dates and times will also be available during December and January, and publicised on the Museum’s website – www.cricketmuseum.wales