Charles Wood - Author, Documentary Maker, Illustrator, Blogger
Charles Wood - Author, Documentary Maker, Illustrator, Blogger

Bats, Pads & Gladiators - A Miscellany of Gloucestershire Cricket

"Full to the brim with eccentricity and odd statistics." Rajesh Kumar

click image to look inside

It’s 2012, resplendent in blue pyjamas the County’s cricket pros led by Captain ‘Giddo’ Gidman call themselves ‘Gladiators’, and hope springs eternal.

 

Although touching on the prime Gloucestershire CCC years of the artful old toad W.G., Wally Hammond, and R.C. ‘Jack’ Russell MBE while skipping over a fair share of tears and doldrums, be warned this book is not a club history.

Drawn from chats with a motley assortment of former players both professional and amateur, club officials, broadcast commentators, die-hard spectators and competitive tea ladies, the content herein shouldn’t be taken too seriously because it’s often hilarious.

North Nibley

The tales are legion. Take as examples the cricketing ‘spirit’ upon Sheepscombe’s Laurie Lee Field, or those Pratt Cup cricketers changing into whites in the billiard room of a North Nibley mansion overshadowed by Breakheart Hill. Neither should one overlook the parrot that squawked ‘GLAWSTER!’ nor the bizarre connections embedded as far afield as the islands of Nevis and Corfu.

 

Taken as a whole, I've unearthed a worldwide passion for Gloucestershire cricket that’s alive and well, and full to the brim with eccentricity and odd statistics.

 

A tome to be enjoyed by every lover of the ‘summer game’.

 

Let yourself be surprised. Bats Pads & Gladiators written and illustrated by Charles Wood was published by Halsgrove on 21st September 2012 and was featured on BBC Radio Gloucestershire on 9th October 2012.

A Few Of The Gloucestershire Characters Whose Stories And Memories Appear In Bats, Pads & Gladiators.

Read Rajesh Kumar's book review of Bats, Pads & Gladiators here.

News

How To Survive In Staffordshire, published 2016.

Bats and Belters - A light-hearted novel about village cricket. Published 2014.

click image to read All Out Cricket review

Another Somerset Century The book that's found its way into the Lord's library earns three 5-star Amazon reviews: 'A very good read, by a brilliant author. The best of the SCCC books that have come out for a while.'  18/11/13. 'Tackles all the the recent stories from numerous runner's up finishes to major ground and personnel changes.' 12/12/13. An enjoyable read for a Somerset supporter or fan of cricket. The sort of book one can pick up, read a bit, and return to with ease.' 20/12/13.

Bats Pads & Gladiators - A Miscellany of Gloucestershire Cricket earns a 5-Star Amazon review.

My documentary film Nature's Alchemy was selected for participation in the Culture Unplugged online festival Spirit Enlightened 2014.

Digital Album of Fairy Tales

Tales From The Green Man's Daughter - Digital Album released August 2012.

 

Cricket blog attracts attention. Read 

zumbeamer.wordpress.com

 

See Other News

On Kindle

My books are available on Amazon Kindle

for you to enjoy.

 

Download a free sample today @ the Kindle Store

of:

 

Bats Pads and Cider

 

How To Survive In Somerset

 

Surviving Another Somerset Year

 

Exmoor Amour

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