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 NOEL BENNETT 1909-1994
Noel Bennett demonstrates his trusty forward push, on his 80th birthday
Brighton Gazette 1989.
For many Club cricketers of yesteryear the second reason for remembering Christmas is to recall playing for or against Noel Bennett's X1.
The period of his playing life represented an era full of club cricket. In April 1940 when the country was at war Noel organised a few games between Brighton Electricity and St. Mary's C.C. The six games played resulted in 3 wins to either side so it was decided to find a winner by playing a game on Noel's birthday - Christmas Day. The teams were called NOEL BENNETT'S X1 and the YULE LOGS.
Not only was the first game a great success, but it became established as a regular fixture, and something of a social outing for players and spectators, to build an appetite for Christmas dinner. Between 1940 and 1990 only 7 games were missed due to the weather and Noel played in all but 2 matches when he was forced to stand down through illness.

I played for Noel Bennett's X1 ( from 1959 until his death) in the days before League cricket was introduced. The fixture list included several sides in the present County league and included Southend Nomads and Gosport Amateurs - two strong out county teams. Playing for Noel was a way of life. The majority of fixtures were away games and travel was by double decker bus with the club bag being stored under the stairs. Game of cricket - prop up the bar - catch the last bus back home.
The motor car began to change the camaraderie of bus travel but Bennett's still found the time and energy to ensure an enjoyable game and to extend their goodwill in the club house. Noel's speciality was tinkling the ivories on a piano often to be found in a club house. His favourite was possibly in Storrington Cricket Club pavilion as the home side provided a supper of bangers and mash to go with "singalong with Noel".
In his career Noel played nearly 2,000 matches in 45 seasons and took about 1,500 wickets.

When Noel died in June 1994 I was asked to speak at his funeral service. Noel never married and the Chapel was full of Club cricketers. The following is part of my eulogy based loosely on a poem written by an unknown poet in 1921- about the time Noel began to play his cricket.
Noel Bennett was born on Christmas morning 1909
What he did on that December morn with the frosts and snows,
When there was no cricket - nobody knows.
.....................................................................
In nineteen hundred and fifty seven
You will find Noel's name in Bennett's eleven
He was not much use for he made runs rarely,
But he bowled a bit, and he fielded fairly
Noel Bennett ! what does he bowl ? Well, his action suggested that he was tossing a hand grenade as he came off his 3 yard run.
Sometimes it was a wonder he could even walk the 3 paces to the wicket. Once when playing versus Rottingdean , George Burton was chatting to Noel as they changed. Noel took off his elegantly creased trousers and placed them in his well worn suitcase that he took to all games. He took out his equally well creased flannels and proceeded to put on his boots.
George stood back and looked at Noel's feet.
" Hey, Noel, you are wearing two right footed boots."
" Am I ?" said Noel ." Well that's funny. I wore them all through yesterday's game "

And whatever he may or may not have been
He had one good point - he was always keen
Keen, I should think so - with ample leisure
To follow his one and only pleasure
He would always play, and he never chucked
He never groused and he never bucked
He would go in late to oblige his friends
And was ready to field mid off at both ends
So although he was not a distinguished bat
Everyone liked Noel I am sure of that.

That was unless you were batting with him
One one occasion when batting with the late Ron Faith, Noel was his usual disinterested running partner.
Ron Come one
Noel No, not now, Ron
Next ball
Ron There's one there Noel
Noel No- no-er- No , Ron
The third ball Ron hit and ran down to the bowler's end where Noel remained transfixed. Putting his full weight against Noel's ample posterior he shoved Noel out of the crease and towards the wicket keeper's end just as the keeper removed the bails.
"You're out, Ron said," We crossed".

When his powers abated with old age
He was far too wise to lag on stage
His joints grew stiff, and his eyes grew dim
And bowlers began to bowl slow to him
A kindly concession, but one which he
Resented sadly and bitterly
So laying his bat and ball to rest
He took to umpiring with equal zest

Noel may best be described as an umpire who needed no time at all to decide that the batsman was out but occasionally he would muddle his decision.
"Out, not"

Now plot or passion, or love or strife,
For some of us make up the end of life;
There be some who labour for wealth or fame
But Noel gave his heart to the cricket game-
A futile mission, and trivial very,
Yet I doubt if he had many talents to bury
And considering that life, as the wise allow
Is an odd kind of business anyhow,
We may leave it at that, with a farewell verse
That Noel might have done better, but might have done worse.

.....................................................................................................

A few days later at 7.30 pm in the gathering dusk we scattered Noel's ashes on the cricket square in Preston Park. We then moved to the bar in the public house across the road where a large gathering of Club cricketers were assembled from the many Clubs which had played against Bennett's

Standing on a chair, the Club captain , Jack Taylor announced.
" Gentlemen - you have been waiting to hear this for years. The drinks are on Noel."
Noel had left £1,000 to be used to mourn his passing.

Dick Redbourn describes the scene in his book " Cricket at the grassroots" - page 92
There was no sadness; it was almost a celebration that we'd all played a part in, and had been touched by, the life of such a lovely man.
Noel was the embodiment of uninhibited enthusiasm for the game, and the occasion was more than putting to rest a great character on the local scene. In a personal way, it seemed also to draw a line under the fun days of "friendly" club cricket.

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