An amusing incident for some, but not all…!!
The YG’s were in the field and the two batsmen at the time for the Ramblers were Sir Geoffrey Palmer Bt and Viscount (Richard) Mountgarrett. Geoffrey Palmer was well known to one or two of us having played against us several times for various Clubs. Richard Mountgarrett was a YG and played for the Club quite regularly. So both batsmen were known generally speaking to a number of us.
Richard Mountgarrett was deaf and to say the least, his running and calling between the wickets was rather erratic. Geoffrey Palmer was a good player and had difficulty pronouncing the letter ‘R.’ On one occasion, having over run the crease to make his ground after another doubtfull call from Richrd Mountgarrett he nearly knocked me over at first slip. Returning to the crease to take strike he said to me as he passed “Woger, if I don’t look out wichard is going to wun me out.” I said that it looked highly likley…!!!
What happened next took less than one minute.
Richard Mountgarrett was on strike and hit the ball quite hard, but got a top edge and the ball went in the air above mid wicket, where James Burdass was shaping up to take the catch. Without any call, Richard Mountgarrett set off for a run. In the meantime James drops the catch and weighing up the situation with both batsmen now at the bowler’s end, he gently lobs the ball to the wicked keeper, where Martin Summers delicately removed one bail. Silence followed until Martin Summers appealed. At which point Geoffrey Palmer immediately announced that he had not left his crease. Further silence followed. Possibly Richard Mountgarrett in a fleeting moment might have thought that a Viscount out ranked a Baronet. But not on the cricket field and the umpire of course had to give the Viscount out. He was not pleased and made his displeasure quite clear on his slow walk back to the pavilion.
An amusing incident for some but unfortunately, not for the victim.
RH