Esteemed Crosser reaches 90 not out

A great Crosser celebrated his 90th birthday on July 9th. Despite Richard Demarco's many significant achievements in the cultural sphere, he maintains fond memories of his time as a young Holy Cross cricketer. 

As we know, the Edinburgh Festival and Fringe won't be taking place this year. The Cowgate, usually a hive of activity at this time of year, was serenely quiet as I passed through it on Wednesday morning. I was on the way to meet Richard Demarco in relation to his massive archive project (currently based at Summerhall). Despite his long association with both the International Festival and the Fringe, he was not unhappy about the cancellation of this year's Festival. Though the Edinburgh Festival ‘gave Edinburgh a much needed special dimension’, he feels that the Festival has lost sight of its original mission and a rebirth is long overdue. Perhaps the year off will lead to some rethinking..

90 not out is a fine achievement for any cricketer and for any Crosser. Demarco attended Holy Cross Academy from 1941 until 1949. He was delighted to hear of my connections to the cricket club. He had heard about Hugh Kilpatrick's death. Both were at Holy Cross at the same time (Richard 3 years older than Hugh). He passed on his good wishes to the club and hopes that it can keep alive the Holy Cross name (the school having closed in 1969 and the rugby club having become Inverleith in the 90s). When reviewing the history of the school (published 10 years ago) he suggested that the cricket club 'deserves to have a history all to itself'. 

Richard admitted that he was ‘obsessed’ with cricket in his youth, as the letter below from David Harding (another Holy Cross Academy pupil who became a leading artist and art teacher) makes clear. The letter indicates Demarco’s passion for record keeping - something he’s maintained throughout his life, culminating in his archive which contains hundreds of thousands of items. The photo of the 1949 Holy Cross Academy school first XI includes both Richard and his brother. According to Hugh Kilpatrick's computerised records (which only cover 1st XI matches), Demarco only once turned out for the FP 1st XI (his brother Louis played 4 times). 

Demarco is currently in the midst of organising his vast and rich archive with the hope that it will be transferred to a purpose-build home in Granton ...possibly in 2024. From the energy and passion for life and art he displayed when I met him, a century seems within the grasp of this legendary Crosser.

Find out more about Demarco's archive project here. 

Smudger's Cricket Teaser - Answer

Not a Friday

The Loins of the Club writes:

The Aus player who wasn't selected because he wouldn't eat fish on a Friday was Alan Kippax, although I misled you with the dates. It was when he was young in 1926. He averaged 50+ for NSW but only in the 30's in tests - all v England and all on uncovered wickets. No easy runs v Bangladesh in those days.

Smudge forgot to type "bring back the draw" at the end of his email so I've been kind enough to add it.

Hollywood Legend Pictured In Edinburgh

Family Day Out

It could have been any father out for the day with his boys to watch some cricket at Portgower Place on Sunday. But this wasn't just any family outing. Original James Bond star, McGill Collins, took his boys to the set of 90's blockbuster 'The Masterton Files' and regaled the youngsters with the tale of how he bowled Don Bradman twice with one ball in the semi final.

Young Chuckie McGill (back row, left) was overheard openly questioning his fathers version of events having recently studied the account of a witness to the filming who wrote everything down in a scorebook.

Without pausing for breath, the ageing megastar explained to the first twins he had out of wedlock, EC & CA Hurley (back row centre & middle row centre) how, despite winning multiple Oscars every time he makes a movie, studio bosses keep freezing him out of summer blockbusters and forcing him to turn out in low budget B-movies.

Despite this marginalisation, ‘Cocko’ Collins still manages to direct some independent movies of an evening. He recently cast Bollywood sensation Vikramabawz Groweary in ‘75’, a short film about a street urchin who buys a magical shirt on the internet and turns into a run machine.

Cocko’s other twins, Shane (beard) & Prat Blanchett (back row right) announced they hope to shoot a movie at Portgower Place one day, though due to legal wrangles, all sets have been moved to nearby studios 20^th Century Fettes until further notice.

Geordie McGill (middle row left) appeared to be yet again engaged in his addiction to voicemail interception.

Cocko is probably best known for his role as ‘Mitch McGill’ a Portobello lifeguard in the Scorcese epic Deep Slippy Gully.

From The Archives: HX vs BAF!

[from KF]

Joining the erstwhile glance back at HX games from yesteryear, can there be a much more priceless gem in the archives than this, extracted from the scrapbook of B Fraser?

The year was 1992. The venue was Arboretum. It was a Sunday in May. The visitors were a strong Penicuik XI. The ten man home side contained the evergreen Coco McGill and the everwilting Doogs Russell. Those lucky enough to be present were about to witness an astonishing 3 over burst of bowling.

Penicuik made a formidable 235-3 including 75 from WI pro, Phil Johnson. In reply, the Cross batsmen struggled to make good with the chase. The tail, including McGill at 6 and D Russell at 10, were ripped to shreds when 16 year old Brian Fraser announced his arrival as one-to-watch with figures of 4-15.

That batting card:

PCC

A Penman st Russell b McGill 74

D Keay b Conn 22

P Johnson lbw b Mitchell 75

M Marshall no 34

M Yan Hip no 3

R Waites, A Law, S Dagless, ex 24

B Fraser, M Allen, G Leslie DNB. 235-3

HX

I Mitchell st Law b Keay 31

F Suttie c Keay b Marshall 6

C Neil st Law b Allen 7

A Robb c Law b Allen 0

C McGill c Law b Fraser 20

D Vettese c Johnson b Fraser 3

R Litster st Law b Fraser 7

N Dingwall c&b b Leslie 0

A Conn b Fraser 0

D Russell no 3

Ex 3

80

There is no truth in the rumour that McGill has subsequently adapted his bowling style to mimic the (then) youngster's action. And, when Brian got hold of The Scotsman the next day to see his name in print, it was reported thus; B Fraser 4-115. Last night B Fraser was heard to mutter “f***** h***, if they’d had eleven I could have had a five-for."

From the Archive (part 1 of a continuing series).

In the run-up to the Club's 60th Anniversary (2010), this blog will be featuring snippets from the Cross archives.

These words of wisdom (written by then club Secretary James Bradley) first appeared in the W. H. Mann Guide to Scottish Cricket 1999 but remain relevant:

'Next year we will [be] working on the simple equation (suggested by Father Jack*, and finally proved after 100 years [of] research by club mathematician Colin McGill), more drink = more beers'

*For younger readers, this is a reference to a character (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Father_Jack_Hackett) in the Channel 4 situation comedy (and -for older readers- moderately amusing Hancock's Half Hour rip off) Father Ted (Hatrick Productions, 1995-8). Any resemblance between the character Father Jack and a living Holy Cross player is entirely intentional.