Anniversary of the D-Day that belonged to Fred
Widows of three Yorkshire quicks: Connie Wood, extreme left, Ann Nicholson and Veronica Trueman enjoy a moment together at the Yorkshire Players’ Association summer reunion lunch at Headingley Carnegie. (Picture: VAUGHN RIDLEY)
Veronica Trueman, widow of the great Fred, was among the special lady guests who attended Yorkshire County Cricket Club Players' Association summer reunion lunch during the LV Championship match with Sussex at Headingley Carnegie on Sunday.
The others included Ann Nicholson, widow of former fast bowler Tony Nicholson; Connie Wood, widow of another of the county’s pacemen, Chris Wood, and Jo Mosey, widow of former broadcaster and sports journalist, Don Mosey.
June 7 - the day of the reunion and the day after the celebrations of the 65th anniversary of D-Day - was the 57th anniversary of Fred Trueman’s debut for England at Headingley in 1952 when he took three wickets in eight balls to help to reduce India to 0-4. This was Len Hutton’s first match as England captain, and it was entirely appropriate that son Richard, the former Yorkshire and England all-rounder, should be at the lunch.
Other Association members who attended included Bryan Stott, chairman; Geoff Cope, secretary; Brian Close, Yorkshire County Cricket Club President, Bob Appleyard, Don Wilson, John Hampshire, Phil Sharpe, Bob Platt, Eric Burgin, Mike Cowan, Eric Sutton, Peter Kippax, Brian Bolus, Dickie Bird, Andrew Dalton, Peter Chadwick, Philip Hodgson, Howard Cooper, Bill Holdsworth and Mark Johnson.