SOMERSET cricketing legend Harold Gimblett was honoured at a service of celebration in Bicknoller.

The service, at Bicknoller Church, was to commemorate 100 years since the birth of Mr Gimblett who was born in the village in 1914.

He played for Watchet Cricket Club from a young age and is described by Somerset historian David Foot as the “greatest batsman Somerset has ever produced”.

He burst on to the cricket scene in 1935 when he scored the fastest century of the season on his debut against Essex at Frome.

The Rev Richard Allen, a former local cricketer, took the service while Harold’s nephew, Malcolm, represented his family and talked about his own recollections of his uncle. Roy Kerslake, president of Somerset County Cricket Club, recollected some of Harold’s cricket feats.

Former Somerset player John Harris (1952) talked about his memories of the first time he met Harold Gimblett as a 10-year-old before playing alongside Harold Gimblett as a teenager.

Richard Allen also gave a moving address before Will Osmond, from Bishops Hull CC, talked about cricket in West Somerset today.

Rob Walrond, the Somerset Chaplain, said prayers of thanksgiving before everyone made their way to the Bicknoller Inn.

There was a lot of interest shown in the large number of artefacts on show which had been provided by the Somerset Cricket Museum and to mark the occasion the Bicknoller church bells were rung.

PICTURED are CLLR Stuart Dowding, leader of WSC, Will Osmond (Bishops Hull CC), Rev Richard
Allen, Malcolm Gimblett, Rob Walrond (chaplain SCCC), Roy Kerslake (president
SCCC), Michael Hill (former president SCCC), John Harris (former SCCC player) and
Richard Walsh (Somerset Cricket Museum Trustee) at the memorial. Photos: Alain Lockyer