In Memory of Maurice Turnbull

5th July 2016 | Mallory Gray

The image above shows Ben Kellaway, Wales U12 captain, and Josh Truckel, Gwent U12 player, preparing to lay a wreath in Normandy on the garve  of Morris Turnball, captain of Glamorgan and the first Glamorgan England cricketer.

Let the late Christopher Martin-Jenkins provide an account of Turnbull's career (From Cricinfo)

"To Maurice batting was a gay adventure. He was a gifted right-hander who made runs when they were wanted and whose value could not always be assessed on figures. Initially as an on-side player, he developed all the recognised strokes and added some of his own, and he was also a fine short-leg fielder. Always associated in the public minds with Glamorgan, he first appeared for them as a schoolboy in 1924. he captained Cambridge in 1929 and Glamorgan from 1930 until 1939. He passed 1000 runs in a season ten times and three times hit double-centuries, the highest being 233 against Worcestershire at Swansea in 1937, a season in which Glamorgan finished higher than ever before thanks to his bold leadership and devoted example. For ten years he was an outstanding secretary to the club. He toured Australia in 1929-30 and South Africa in 1930-31 and with Maurice Allom wrote a lighthearted account of each tour. At home he represented England against West Indies and India; and he was an English selector in 1938 and 1939. A Major in the Welsh Guards, he was killed in action in Normandy. A brilliant allround sportsman, he also played for Wales at rugby and hockey.

Christopher Martin-Jenkins

The picture above shows Turnbull (sitting 4th from the left), wearing his MCC sweater, as he captains a Glamorgan XI against a UCW XI at Vicarage Field, Aberystwyth, in 1939.  His final season.