3 Aug 2014 | Cricket
Fifty years ago on August 4th 1964, Glamorgan recorded their first-ever victory against the Australians, whilst seventy years ago on August 5th, Maurice Turnbull, the Club's inspirational captain and dynamic figurehead off the field, was killed whilst serving with the Welsh Guards in Normandy. His life is being remembered in a special talk this week in the CC4 Museum of Welsh Cricket on Thursday evening.
Looking first at the victory fifty years ago against the Australians, the first week of August 1964 saw both the Australian tourists and the National Eisteddfod visit Swansea, with the cricket match and cultural festival taking place within a mile or so of each other. The game proved to be a historic one for the Welsh county, despite a modest record of just three wins from twenty Championship matches, as they recorded their first-ever victory over the men in the baggy green caps.
It was all achieved with quite an inexperienced side, as several senior players were rested. Few can have fancied a Glamorgan win after they were dismissed 197, but after a short shower freshened up the wicket, Don Shepherd and Jim Pressdee produced a magnificent spell of bowling, reducing Australia to 39-6. They eventually recovered to 101, but it gave Glamorgan a useful first innings lead, and after some handy runs from Tony Lewis and Alan Rees, the tourists were left with a target of 268.
With some fine bowling and superb fielding, the tourists slipped to 207-6 as the pressure mounted on the Australian tail to maintain their unbeaten record against Welsh county. To the delight of the crowd, swelled by a stream of visitors from the Eisteddfod, three further wickets fell in quick succession and with 37 runs still needed wicket-keeper Eifion Jones caught Neil Hawke to clinch a famous victory.
Seventy years ago, Glamorgan Cricket - and Welsh sport in general - was dealt a devastating blow shortly after the Normandy Landings in World War Two. Maurice Turnbull, who was a Major in the Welsh Guards landed in France a week or so after D-Day, and as always, the Glamorgan captain led from the front.
During their advance through Northern France, he led several raids on Nazi troops as the Allied Forces moved forward, but in one of these raids near the small town of Montchamp, Maurice was to pay the highest price for his bravery, as he was shot and instantly killed by shots from a German tank as he and his colleagues fearlessly launched a counter-attack against an advancing column of Panzer tanks.
News of Maurice's tragic death reached Cardiff during the course of the next few days, as Glamorgan were engaged in a series of fund-raising matches at the Arms Park. Shortly after a notice of his death was posted on the board in the Cardiff pavilion, the crowd spontaneously rose and stood in a minute's silence in tribute of a man who had devoted so much time in raising the fortunes of the Club.
On Thursday evening, August 7th, there will be a special talk in the CC4 Museum of Welsh Cricket, starting at 7.30pm, reflecting on the life of Maurice Turnbull. Tickets for current Glamorgan members cost £3 in advance or £4 on the door on the night. For non-members, it's £4 in advance or £5 on the door (Price includes complimentary tea and coffee). Tickets are available in advance during normal office hours from Reception in the Really Welsh Pavilion at the SWALEC Stadium. Please enquire about parking when purchasing your ticket.