WORCESTERSHIRE County Cricket Club has rescued a rare item of memorabilia belonging to a player who appeared for the county more than 100 years ago.
The club’s heritage co-ordinator, Tim Jones, discovered a 1910 Goldsmiths and Silversmith London Silver Trophy Bowl, belonging to Lieutenant Colonel Bill Taylor (Royal Field Artillery), almost ‘sold for scrap’ at Lymington Auctions in Hampshire.
However, after Jones found out about the item’s existence, on a wooden base weighing 980 grams, he purchased the Bowl for £550 using heritage funds. The Bowl is now on its way to New Road to appear alongside an impressive collection in the Graeme Hick pavilion.
Jones said: “Lieutenant Colonel Bill Taylor was a mainstay, of both Worcestershire CCC and Gentlemen of Worcestershire CC either side of World War I.
“Research indicated that this was a wedding gift, presented to him and his wife Harriet ‘Ally’ Whitaker in a service held at Pershore Abbey in October, 1911. It was destined to be sold for scrap.
“Bill Taylor first appeared for Worcestershire in a second XI game against Warwickshire seconds in May 1909, scoring 101 not out. The following month he made his first-class debut for Worcestershire against Kent at Tonbridge.
“Described as a fast-medium bowler with an ‘easy action’, he played 94 County Championship matches for Worcestershire with best bowling figures of 7-64 against Glamorgan at Kidderminster in 1921 and a highest score of 59 not out against Essex at Worcester in 1914.
“Taylor was appointed captain in 1914 and on conclusion of the final Championship match that season is reported to have marched the players to the recruiting office to enlist them following the outbreak of war.
“Not only did he serve his country with distinction, but was appointed a Justice of the Peace, was High Sheriff of Worcester in 1949 and Vice Lieutenant of the County in 1957.”
Jones added: “His brother in law was another Worcestershire stalwart, Maurice Jewell and through their joint fundraising efforts and patronage, kept Worcestershire ‘afloat’ during the lean and troubled years of the 1920s.
“Playing occasionally for Free Foresters, Bill Taylor also had a long association with The Gentlemen of Worcestershire side, playing for them for 24 years. This included tours to Guernsey, Jersey, Denmark and Portugal.
“The purchase was made possible due in no part to funds directed to maintaining and improving the Worcestershire CCC Heritage Collection – and which is self funded accumulated over the years thanks to various financial donations.
“These sit alongside the proceeds realised from the annual New Road memorabilia market.”
