Charlie Pearce

Another great clubsman, Charlie Pearce, was a true local, living for years at Pye Corner, Chit toe and, later, as a gardener to Sir William Baynes, at Sloper ton Cottage. His skill as a gardener, he was and still is a perfectionist, was invaluable to the club and he must have spent about as many hours working on the 5pye wicket as playing on it. During those years at Sloperton he, with Hank and Pete Lewis, worked for hours improving the wicket, outfield and facilities. They always found time for a drink afterwards and, inevitably Hank would drive him home late where Dot, his wife, would be waiting, not amused. Hank always talked her round though.

like so many of his contemporaries Charlie started his cricket at Spye when Charlie Oakford got things going again and he played over 30 seasons with the. club, many as captain. He denied himself opportunities as captain because his strong sense of fair play meant that he would not open the bowling himself but would give someone else a chance. An example of this was at Potterne in 1955 when he gave the ball to Albert Corbin. Now Albert was really quick but that day highly erratic. Potterne had 60 odd in no time mostly extras off Albert. Eventually, Charlie took over and proceeded to take 5 - O. This was probably his best spell although he bowled unchanged at Lacock taking 7 - 11 on one occasion.

His bowling, like his gardening, was meticulously accurate. He would drop on line and length immediately and bowling seam up would move it a bit off the wicket. His accuracy was his pride and he would be most profuse in his apology should one stray down the leg side. When asked, he was hard put to remember a notable batting performance but eventually seemed to recall that he got about 30 once when "we needed em".

Despite his performance on other grounds his favourite was Nettleton. I suspect that this was because of the 'apres cricket' in the King William. Charlie was no mean dart player. He and Kank King won us more beer than was good for us one evening there. Today (at the centenary), Charlie is now fully retired, although you wouldn't think it to see his ever immaculate garden at the top of Naish Hill.