Howzat for popularity?

THE obituary of Don Wilson (Yorkshire Post, July 25) reminded me of a cricketing incident that happened a long time ago.

My father was a very well regarded cricketer and it was felt in many circles that if he had been born in Yorkshire and not in Sussex he would have played for the county.

I believe it was a benefit match and my father was in a team playing against a Len Hutton side. It was a lovely sunny day with the ground at Saltaire filled to capacity.

Hutton hadn’t been long into his innings when my father bowled him. To his amazement the umpire signalled “not out” and the game continued.

As he passed the umpire my father said: “That wasn’t a fair decision, umpire.” The official replied: “I know it wasn’t lad, but they’ve come to see Len Hutton, not you!”

Practising what he preaches

From: D Britton, Denford Avenue, Lytham.

I DIDN’T think Prime Minister David Cameron could say anything more stupid than “we will not become a larger version of Switzerland” in a recent speech.

But he’s managed it; on the one hand he has praised our defence forces, the best in the world, also the police security in the Olympics.

With the other hand, he appears to have sanctioned massive cuts in those forces, and the police countrywide.

The phrase “he speaks with forked tongue” comes to mind.