CHARLES PALMER
More Than Just A Gentleman
Douglas Miller
Cover illustration by Charles Palmer
Charles
Palmer was
one of cricket’s most popular men. He rose to national prominence in 1948
when, taking time off from his duties as a schoolmaster, he played one of the
outstanding innings of the summer against Don Bradman’s Australians.
Two
years later he became captain and Secretary of Leicestershire County Cricket
Club, and his quiet, firm leadership quickly lifted the county from
near-bankruptcy and bottom place in the Championship.
He
was player-manager of the dramatic tour of the West Indies in 1953/54, when
Len Hutton’s England side –
besieged by adversity – came back from losing the first two Tests.
In later life he was President of MCC and Chairman of the International Cricket Conference, wrestling with such issues as the exclusion of South Africa and the havoc created by the Australian TV mogul Kerry Packer.
Charles
Palmer was a man of great charm and humour, and his main purpose in working on
this book was to pass on some of the pleasure that a life in cricket had given
him. Sadly, he died before the task was completed, but it is hoped that the
book does justice to his wish – as well as paying tribute to a great servant
of the game.