Eric Dawson interviewed by David Rayvern Allen

Reference

MCC/AAL/3/179

Date:

2005-09-06

Level of description

item

Extent

1 CD: 39 minutes 48 seconds

Part of

David Rayvern Allen Audio Archive (MCC/AAL/3)

Scope and Content

1 CD, Eric Dawson, steward at Lord's, interviewed by David Rayvern Allen. The CD consists of 7 tracks.

Track 1: [0:00-0:47] Dawson talks about disliking something Rayvern Allen write on Jim Swanton, [0:48-2:44] Dawson talks about first visiting in Lord's in 1957 to watch the West Indies and getting a job at the ground, [2:45-3:06] Introduction by Rayvern Allen, [3:07-4:39] Dawson talks about moving to England from Jamaica in 1952 and being a carpenter, [4:40-4:55] Dawson talks about being drafted into doing national service.

Track 2: [0:00-2:41] Dawson talks about doing national service and getting a letter of recommendation from Allan Rae to play county cricket, [2:42-4:15] Dawson talks about working for a metal company and wanting to watch the West Indies because he was friends with Collie Smith back in Jamaica, [4:16-4:55] Dawson talks about working during 1957 West Indies Lord's Test Match and staying on permanently.

Track 3: [0:00-1:40] Dawson talks about initially working part-time as a Lord's steward, [1:41-2:24] Dawson talks about working in the Mound Stand and getting to watch cricket and meet players, [2:25-2:51] Dawson talks about Denis Compton and George Headley being his cricket idols and admiring English players, [2:52-4:34] Dawson talks about how he met players, befriending Peter May and calls Tom Graveney the complete player.

Track 4: [0:00-0:12] Dawson talks about Tom Graveney, [0:13-1:02] Dawson talks about meeting Australian players and becoming friends with Keith Miller, [1:03-1:52] Dawson talks about being based in the Mound Stand and the Indoor Cricket School during winter, [1:53-4:26] Dawson talks about moving in the pavilion when a member of staff was rude to a member, [4:27-5:24] Dawson talks about stopping stewarding in 2004.

Track 5: [0:00-2:59] Dawson talks about how MCC has become too commercialised since when he started and how the Tavern has changed, [3:00-3:58] Dawson talks about George Headley hitting a six into the top of the old Tavern Stand, [3:59-4:54] Dawson talks about positive changes at Lord's.

Track 6: [0:00-1:25] Dawson talks about wishing to see Father Time weather vane back on the new Grand Stand, [1:26-4:05] Dawson talks about his retirement due to his wife being ill and MCC being good to him, [4:06-4:58] Dawson talks about his duties as a steward.

Track 7: [0:00-2:14] Dawson talks about his duties as a steward, [2:15-5:37] Dawson talks about dealing with unruly crowds, receiving letters of praise and single complain over MCC becoming too commercial, [5:38-6:59] Dawson talks about the 1975 Lord's streaker, [7:00-9:58] Dawson talks about the 1973 IRA bomb scare.




A back-up copy of this CD is included.

Associations

Eric Dawson
David Rayvern Allen
Ernest William Swanton
O'Neil Gordon Smith
Allan Fitzroy Rae
Denis Charles Scott Compton
George Alphonso Headley
Thomas William Graveney
Keith Ross Miller

Subject

Lord's Cricket Ground, West Indies in England 1957, Mound Stand, Indoor Cricket School

Conditions governing access

Open

Language

English

Size

1 CD: 39 minutes 48 seconds

Hierarchy browser

• David Rayvern Allen Audio Archive (MCC/AAL/3)
  
  • Eric Dawson interviewed by David Rayvern Allen (MCC/AAL/3/179)