History of the Club: 4

The ground staff in early days

Mr. Munds was groundsman for many years, with a horse stabled at the eastern edge of the field to pull the mower and roller and rake up the grass.

His son Raymond, who had been a professional with Kent County Cricket Club, followed him into the job. Besides maintaining the ground and pavilion he kept wicket and was an excellent left-handed batsman.

While the pavilion was later much enlarged, the ground never changed much, though the Club no longer has to rely on a horse-drawn mower!

The ground suffered in common with the rest of the town during the Second World War, being under barbed wire as part of the defences against the enemy. Sheep grazed to help keep the grass under control. A bomb was actually dropped on the ground, which, together with six years of neglect, did not help its condition.

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