A Review of the 1966 Season
A significant event occurred in August 1966 when the pavilion was destroyed by fire. The Secretary’s report for 1966 provides a vivid description of this incident:
Imagine my feelings when, shortly after 6.45 am in the morning of Wednesday 3rd August. I was called to my telephone to hear that our pavilion had been gutted by fire. On arriving at the ground shortly afterwards my worst fears were realised, the building was completely destroyed and quite suddenly I felt rather sick. What a dreadful shambles! I immediately thought of the barbecue we were to hold on the following Friday evening, and the endless work that had been to put in by those young people to make this a real evening for the younger members, and now it had all gone. A Full Committee Meeting was called for that evening and it was unanimously agreed that we must carry on, but what of the game on the following Saturday. The only building left of any consequence was the tea hut, which had been partially burnt and was black with grime and smoke, Also, of course, the lighting had ceased to function. Thursday saw the place cleaned and completely washed down. I have never seen so many scrubbing brushes in action at once, and needless to say detergent was all over the place. The burnt parts were covered up and one of the chaps got busy in rewiring the lighting. Friday it was repainted throughout and Saturday we were ready for the game. A temporary bar had been fixed up, and all was laid on for teas, but unfortunately we had no hot water, One of our Patrons, Mr Ashley, who lived in a house adjoining the ground, soon overcame this by offering the use of his kitchen to make the tea. It was practical gestures such as this, and the great work done by the few in making this hut at least temporarily hospitable, which kept us ticking over.
This event clearly overshadowed performances on the field where under Buddy Jessop the First Eleven Won 4, Drew 8 and Lost 6 games. Games were played in an experimental League – The Evening Standard North League – with traditional fixtures remaining on the card. No League tables are to hand at present although we think the North (of the Thames) winners played the South (of the Thames) winners in a grand final.
Leading run scorers were Ted Sandrock(356) , Harry Davis (349) and Graham Lord (300). Top wicket takers were Buddy Jessop with 34 at 13 apiece and Peter Brown (26 at 17).
Steve Dinsdale was the year’s only centurion with a splendid unbeaten 104 against Woodford Wells. In the game against Winchmore Hill, the opposition failed to chase Chingford’s total of 79, closing on 70-9 thanks to an amazingly miserly spell of bowling from Ron Lynch with 4-16 off 23 overs.
Ron had another amazing spell of the bowling in the mid-season all day game with the Chinghoppers. Reeling out 24 overs for just 3-29, the Hoppers were dismissed for 116. With Chingford’s reply looking doomed, in stepped Terry Dennehy to be the hero as he smashed four sixes in his 36 to see Chingford home by just one wicket.
The Fixture Card gives the venue of the Annual Dinner as The Royal Forest Hotel. I’m not sure how many takers the 6 a side festival at Fairlop on 3 July would attract these days