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Hi Malcolm,

I managed to see Fred bowl for Yorks in the mid 60s - I was about 15 and it was the summer holidays. He was nearing the end of his career but still ran in fast - I was pleased to see him play because he was, and still is, a hero of mine.

Fred was born at Scotch Springs Lane, Stainton in the south of the County - I was born just down the road at Sandbeck, in a farm labourer`s cottage on the Earl of Scarbrough`s ( not Scarborough) Estate, not far from Roche Abbey. Mum new the Trueman family and told me they were even `rougher` than we were!
Chris Waters ( Yorkshire Post Cricket writer ) wrote an excellent biography of Fred which gives a good account of his life and character.

Hi tyke
He retired to a little hamlet (not even a village) near us, called Flasby. There's a great bronze statue of him by the canal in Skipton.

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g209940-d11403228-Reviews-Freddie_Trueman_Statue-Skipton_North_Yorkshire_England.html

Hi Chrise

I love Skipton - I`ve had a nice drink in the `Woolly Sheep` more than once. This was a few years before the statue - if lockdown ever ends I`ll talk my mates into having a cultural trip to Skipton to see it - we travel by train so no parking/driving problems.

Point of trivia - Fred`s daughter married Raquel Welch`s son, although, sadly, the marriage only lasted a couple of years.

Tyke

I stayed at a hotel in Bolton Abbey, Skipton for a meeting about 25-30 years ago and the staff told us that the marriage had recently taken place. They told me that I had the same room as Raquel. I wasn't sure if they were winding me up, but you have confirmed it. I have always been proud that I have slept in the same bed as Raquel Welch.

Jigjag

I can remember Brian Johnston winding Fred up on TMS about the wedding. I think Fred invited Raquel & family to stay with them for the weekend ( that`s what I call `something for the weekend`) but Raquel`s management team felt she and her entourage might be too large to squeeze into the Trueman residence.

Tyke Jigjag

I wonder how they met - at a cricket match? seems unlikely.

Nice to see clues in Times in the last few days for 20/20, clipper, and spear after discussions here, and Wigan today!

Grunger

It can`t have been easy for Raquel to meet someone as famous as Fred Trueman !

Yes it does seem as though the Forum has an influence on crossword compilers - we had a few interesting posts from `ASetter` I remember.

Tyke

That must have been before I started looking at this thread. I have not noticed anything from "asetter" in recent times, but Jigjag commented the other date that there had been a discussion re a barbers story. That must have been about a year ago.

It was very kind of Jigjag to allow her to share his bed. It was probably a large one. I assume all Yorkshire members were invited, I mean to the wedding not the bed.

Grunger

Yorkshire members are not allowed in our own Pavilion so I was not too disappointed to not get a wedding invite - I don`t like dressing up anyway.

Thanks for your reply. I don't have a dislike of Yorkshire cricketers in general, just that incident was irritating (and possibly unique).
Mike Denness, England captain in the 1970s, is probably the best known Scottish cricketer for those of a certain age. I used to know of a number who had played county cricket but have forgotten all the names. There is a remarkable amount of cricket played in Scotland despite the annual battle with the elements. One area, surprisingly, is the Aberdeen area but I think most is played in the central belt.