Hall of Fame Number: 014
Inducted: September 2022 at the BCEW David Townley Memorial Twenty20 Cup Finals Day
Inducted as: Teacher & Coach
Frank was a teacher at St Vincent’s School for the blind in Liverpool for 36 years from 1968 to 2004. Whilst his subject was English Literature his passion for VI cricket meant he introduced many hundreds of pupils to the sport over his career and helped coach those pupils. For 35 years he was teaching at the same time as New College Worcester’s Clive Spencer, so it’s no surprise that between the two they contributed to a high percentage of those playing the game in the 1970’s, 80’s & 90’s.
Frank was involved in the formation of the rules for VI cricket & had a stint as chair of British Blind Sport, the charity that at the time administered all VI sports, including cricket.
On the field Frank across his career played for New College Worcester when he studied there, Worcester Old Boys, Birmingham Sports, Oldham Sports, White Rose, Lancashire/Northern Galloways, Leeds & District, Cheshire Cobras & Wavertree CC VI. He was a determined batsman & a good catcher, he also bowled well before a shoulder injury forced him to stop bowling.
Possibly the highlight of Frank’s playing career was winning Totally Blind Man of the Match in the 1980 Primary Club Cup Final when playing for Worcester Old Boys, he took three catches in that match. Frank also won Totally Blind Man of the Match in the 1988 final, this time whilst playing for Birmingham Sports.
At the end of his cricket career Frank continued to play a part off the field as Safeguarding Officer for Cheshire Cobras & Wavertree VI.
Away from cricket Frank was a former vice chairman of England & Wales Blind Golf.
Before Frank’s Hall of Fame Induction Wavertree VI’s Captain Anthony Turnham commented:
“I first came across Frank when I was ten years old at Dorton House School in Sevenoaks, when Worcester Old Boys played cricket there once a year from 1966 to 1971. He also did three weeks there as a volunteer teacher in 1968 just before he took up his post at St Vincent’s.”
“For me as his last playing captain it was always a privilege to have Frank in the team to ask his advice and make use of his wealth of knowledge of our great game of cricket.”