Dickie Bird book received at ceremony in Novotel Hotel, Leeds, 2 November 2024
I was pleased to receive a copy of Dickie Bird’s book, Dickie Bird’s Britain, from Ted Cowley. The ceremony took place at The Novotel Hotel, Leeds.
Ted is one of the Trustees for the Dickie Bird Foundation. The Foundation was set up in 1998 to help less privileged young people in Britain to play sport.
Harold ‘Dickie’ Bird made his international debut as a Test match umpire in 1973. Bird’s career appearances as an international umpire included 66 Test matches, the first three World Cup finals and 92 ODIs. In the 2011 New Year’s honours list, Bird received an OBE for his services to cricket and charity.
He kindly contributed to my two books for Hansib publications, They Gave the Crowd Plenty Fun and 1973 and Me.
Meet the author event at Eltham Centre Library, London, 10 October 2024
Many thanks to everyone at Eltham Centre Library, London. For inviting me to be a guest author speaker at one of their Black History Month events.
The event featured memories about growing up a Caribbean household in 1970s Britain, West Indian cricket, television, comedy, football, politics and school dinners!
Christopher Orchard, librarian at Eltham Centre Library, said, “Colin’s talk was a very interesting insight into how – when you’re growing up – you can, sometimes, have two conflicting identities and influences. And it was interesting to hear how Colin reflected on this, especially when he became older and his opinions about things changed over time. I think cricket has a unique cultural identity for many different people and I was, particularly, interested to hear Colin’s thoughts about that.”
Many thanks again to Patrick, Rachel, Christopher and the team at Eltham Centre Library for organising and managing the event.
Pics from author talk at Eltham Centre Library
Guest interviewee on The Long Seventies podcast, 8 August 2024
Thanks to Matt and Alex for inviting me to be a guest on The Long Seventies – It’s Always the 1970s Somewhere – podcast.
The Long Seventies podcast looks at a myriad of events and trends during the 1970s, large and small, that are worth delving into and investigating. Including art, books, film, music, politics and more.
According to The Long Seventies podcast, as it turns out, the 1970s might be the most important decade of the 20th century for coming to an understanding of our current society.
I enjoyed talking with The Long Seventies team about 1973 and Me, They Gave the Crowd Plenty Fun and other topics that took us in a lot of different areas and directions.
Matt from The Long Seventies podcast said, “It was a pleasure talking to Colin. His book and our discussion provided a key cultural puzzle piece our show was missing in our attempt to understand the Long Seventies.”
Reprint of They Gave the Crowd Plenty Fun, 2 April 2024
They Gave the Crowd Plenty Fun: West Indian Cricket and its Relationship with the British-Resident Caribbean Diaspora, my first book for Hansib Publications, has been reprinted. Many thanks to Kash and Arif at Hansib for making this happen.
They Gave the Crowd Plenty Fun reflects on events that influenced the post-Second World War development of the social impact of cricket on the Caribbean diaspora in Britain. The book also also explores factors which have challenged cricket’s position as a social force for the current descendants of the Windrush generation.
Clem Seecharan, Emeritus Professor of History, London Metropolitan University, said, “Colin has brought out, with tremendous power and depth, how important the achievements of West Indian cricket were to the self-respect and sense of identity of West Indian people in Britain.”
Martlets Cricket Club annual dinner and awards evening, Arundel, Sussex, 1 March 2024
Thanks to everyone at the Martlets Cricket Club, Sussex, for welcoming me as the guest speaker for their annual dinner and awards evening.
The Sussex Martlets are a wandering cricket team who play against the best club sides in Sussex, and home counties teams and touring sides from overseas. Copies of 1973 and Me were given to the award winners.
Thanks again to Paul Walker, Martlets Chairman, and Derek Horsham, Over-40s committee representative, for inviting me to speak at the event.
Paul Walker said, “Colin was absolutely wonderful and the audience were riveted by tales from the 1970s, the West Indian cricket team and, generally, life in 1970s England. It was a wonderful talk and we were very pleased that he came to spend the evening with us.”
Pics from Martlets Cricket Club annual dinner and awards evening