Club History
Origins
The London Theatres Cricket Club (LTCC) was established in 1958.
It came about because Brian Rix and some of the cast at the Whitehall Theatre were keen cricketers and, during the summer of 1957, decided to form a company team. Brian, now Lord Rix of Whitehall, was a regular performer in a string of successful farces at the Whitehall with other famous farceurs such as Ray Cooney and Leo Franklyn.
Douglas Blackwell, our President (pictured above), was a member of the cast of “No Time for Sergeants” at Her Majesty’s and, as they had a male cast of twenty young men, they had no problem taking up the challenge. History does not record which theatre won the game. It did, however, set the trend.
The following year the London Theatres Cricket Club itself was formed and Actors, Singers, Dancers, Musicians, Stage Managers and Lighting Technicians, all working in various other shows in London, took the opportunity to play cricket on non-matinee days. The venue was Parliament Hill Fields on Hampstead Heath.
In the early years shows that fielded a team, apart from those at the Haymarket and the Whitehall, included “My Fair Lady” and “Oliver” from the New Theatre (now the Gielgud). The BBC put in a side as the “Shepherd’s Bush Empire” and, according to founder member Dougie Blackwell, they were very strong. “The Black and White Minstrels” at the Victoria Palace, Covent Garden under their Chorus Master and the Arts Theatre which was a “pooled team” of several theatres whose cast was not big enough for an eleven.
Notable members
Many well-known names and talented amateur cricketers have played for the side over the years, when work has permitted. On one occasion John Lever turned out when we were short and kept wicket.
Simon Hughes was another player before he became a county player and media personality. As a school boy he played alongside his father and past Chairman of the club, Peter Hughes. Another cricketing name who played occasionally was Bill Frindall of Test Match Special fame, who, according to Dougie, kept a very neat score book.
Sean Connery, Sam Kydd, John Slater, William Franklyn, Leslie Crowther, and Bernard Bresslau have all turned out for the club.
The first Club Secretary was Bert Simpson, Head of Catering for several of the theatres in the West End at the time. Other players were Clement Freud, Eric Delzine (Harold Fieldings’ Lighting Designer), Richard Mills (who later was MD of Delfont’s), Ray Cooney and George Sinclair (who was head flyman at the Coliseum, and whose sister Monica sang “Rule Britannia” and “Land of Hope and Glory” at the last night of the Proms).
Club Trophies
A shield presented by Pat Terry of Strand Electric became the “Fielding Shield”. The Fielding Shield was last won by the late Nick Clay, a very athletic fielder and early order bat, but has not been seen since.
Brian Rix presented a cup, which has been variously contested between clubs, then became Player of the Year and is now “Ainley’s Ashes” in memory of a stalwart opening bat for the club who joined the side in the late 70’s and played whenever work permitted until the season before he died in 2003.
