October 2024

Imagine how pleased we were to receive the following e-mail here at HCH in September 2024

Mark Butler and his family have lived for 7 generations in Hambledon, until the house was sold in 2022. One of the more valuable artefacts in the house was a screen with a lot of old score cards, including one when Hambledon defeated the rest of England in 1777, thanks to the skills of the likes of John Small and Richard Nyren. His family has been very concerned that such an important part of cricket’s history should never be lost, particularly as at is still in such good condition. The screen was housed at Lords for some time (back in the 90’s), but the then new curator had different plans, so it was returned to their Hambledon home. Their thought has always been that it remains part of Hampshire history, and Mark therefore contacted Hampshire Cricket Heritage via e-mail last month for us to take custody of it. Not only has the Butler family very kindly donated it to HCH, Mark even dropped it off with us at the Utilita Bowl - see picture of Mark above.  We can't say thank you enough for the culture of giving that now exists towards Hampshire Cricket Heritage and we are only too delighted to take receipt of this unique screen from the extremely generous Butler family. They have also provided information on the screen for us to publish on our Website. The link below takes you to that piece in the Other Items in the Archive Room Collection tab on this site. It includes research from Ian Maun, the notable cricket Historian, who spent many an hour studying the screen for one of his books.

June 2024

The most recent addition to our Hampshire Cap Collection is a very special one. It is the County Cap awarded to Sam Pothecary in 1927. Glen Williams has been in person to collect it in June 2024 from the Pothecary family, after they contacted HCH with the express wish of donating it to the Archive Collection. Sam's son and daughter have very kindly donated Sam's cap awarded in 1927 for a player who represented his native county in 271 matches across a 20 year career with the club. He made nine centuries, including a career-best 130, amassing 9,477 runs. Bowling slow-left-arm, he also took 52 wickets with a best of 4-47. Aged 40, he managed three Championship matches in the season after the end of the Second World War, before then working as a groundsman, coach and umpire in the professional game right up until 1975. His cap is now very much a prized possession in our collection. 

March 2024