[BITList] Fwd: Cricketing tribute to Kirriemuir's famous son

[John Feltham]

Cricketing tribute to Kirriemuir's famous son

The cricket square on Kirrie Hill is being smoothed ahead of an event which will roll back the years to the era of the town's best known son.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

 

J. M. Barrie flicks the coin in an earlier cricket encounter.

By Graham Brown
On Sunday, a Kirrie Cricket Club team will play their part in celebrations to mark the 150th anniversary of author J. M. Barrie's birth when they take to the field against an outfit from the Wayward Gentlemen's Cricket Club.

The nomadic rivals come from all over Scotland and, having played in a number of special matches, will add another chapter to the history of their club and the Angus town with the sporting tribute to the Peter Pan creator.

Cricket-lover Barrie had his own star-studded team of British literary greats and at various times those who lined up for the side included Arthur Conan Doyle, H. G. Wells, Jerome K. Jerome, G. K. Chesterton, A. A. Milne, P. G. Wodehouse and Raffles creator E. W. Hornung.

Known as the Allahakbarries, their history was charted in a book written by Barrie himself and the team's existence has recently been brought to a new reading audience with the release of another work entitled Peter Pan's First XI by author Kevin Telfer, who visited Kirrie as part of the anniversary programme.

"The Allahakbarries were basically Barrie's long-running joke and Barrie's own book is filled with gags about his team's lack of talent," said David Orr, vice-chairman of Kirriemuir Heritage Trust, which is organising the weekend event.

"It sounds as if the majority of players had trouble with batting, bowling and fielding, although players of some ability were recruited from time to time to bolster the ranks."

Sunday's match will get under way at 2pm, when the teams step from the pavilion Barrie gifted to the town.

"This is a free public event and we are encouraging people to bring along a picnic and enjoy the day," added Mr Orr.

http://www.thecourier.co.uk/News/Angus/article/4530/cricketing-tribute-to-kirriemuir-s-famous-son.html

 

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