Description

Photograph is from the Courier Mail 2/11/1974, the original column has been cut out and stuck on the back of the photograph. It reads 'A little bit of Lord's came to the Queensland Cricketers' Club yesterday and club president Roy Tanner naturally gave it a VIP Treatment. Tanner, a keen cricet historian, services the showcases at the club with cricket memorabilia. He agrees he never has handled anything as precious as this consignment on loan from the MCC by courtesy of the British Consul General in Brisbane, Mr Gilbert d'Arnaud-Taylor. The bat was used by the Australian 1902 tourists to England and the photoraph is of the first Australian team to England, the 1878 side which included such imperishable names as F.R Spoforth, W. Bannerman, J. McC. Blackham, W.L. Murdoch who played for Australia and England and the captain D.W. Gregory. The tiny urn is, of course, a replica of the Ashes Urn, the original of which never leaves Lord's. The bat, because of the great age, demands to be pampered, hence the bowl of water in Tanner's right hand. The MCc requested that if the bat is not kept in a humidor a bowl of water be placed with it in a display case to provide moisture in the air, neccessary to prevent the bat from cracking. Te bat, precious enough because of its history, becomes priceless with the autographs of Victor Trumper, Joe Darling, Warwick Armstrong, Clem Hill, Syd Gregory, Monty Noble, and others decorating its face. The display will remain at the Club until after the visit of the MCC Team to Queensland. Frank O'Callaghan'.