Memorial Pavilion
A Memorial Pavilion in Paddock Wood, the D Day Landings and Three Famous Cricketers
A local man Jack Walker was so proud of his village that he wrote the first book about Paddock Wood and published it himself in 1985. It was called “Beginnings and Bygones of Old Paddock Wood”
In the book he tells of how a field was purchased for the development of a new recreation ground for the village. The area concerned was well known for events and had been used for large outdoor community events for generations. It was part of the grounds of Mascalls, once the lovely home of the Morgan family, which is still standing today.
It seems fitting that a Memorial Pavilion was built in the grounds of Mascalls, the original home of the man who was behind plans for the D Day landings of WW2, Lt Gen Sir Frederick Morgan KCB (1894-1967) His brother Stephen was killed in WW1 and they both played cricket.
The village was growing fast and in 1955 it was granted its own Parish Council on which Jack Walker served. The ultimate aim was to maintain a completely equipped recreation ground for all outdoor sports. Paddock Wood Recreation Ground Improvement Fund was to support that aspiration and the War Memorial Welcome Home Fund was also used.
The opening match 12th May 1956 ©
On the 12th May 1956 the new Memorial Recreation Ground and its Pavilion was opened by Bryan Valentine MC (1908-1983). He was a former England Test cricketer (1933-39) and Kent Cricket Captain who had served in WW2 and been awarded the Military Cross.
A cricket match was naturally part of the celebrations. The Vicar Revd Nightingale also dedicated the area as a Memorial as sportsmen had died during the wars and a Memorial plaque was fixed in the Pavilion. The site was surrounded by beautiful pine trees and remains an ideal setting.
The cricket match, between Paddock Wood Cricket Club the Presidents XI, was started by Frank Woolley who drove the first ball. Frank (1887-1978) also played for both Kent and England and was born in Tonbridge.
Frank Woolley can be seen in the picture holding the bat and sitting next to Bryan Valentine on his left. Jack Walker is third from his right.
In recent times the famous spin bowler and local resident Derek Underwood MBE watched some soft ball charity matches at the Memorial Field.
Mark Nicholas writes to enlighten us about the remarkable skill of this legendary player in The Cricket Monthly (July 2020).
“Rattle and hum: on bad pitches, Derek Underwood's deliveries would slither past you before you had a chance to put on a proper defence. Beneath the gentle facade lay a spinner whose weapons were accuracy and fear. Left-arm spin was his gift, delivered with extraordinary accuracy at a lively pace; a gift with which he tormented opponents on surfaces that offered him just the slightest encouragement. If those surfaces were wet, all hell broke loose.”
Adapted from Jack Walkers book with acknowledgement to Mark Nicholas (2020)
https://www.thecricketmonthly.com/story/1226514/deadly-venom--the-terror-of-derek-underwood
Heritage Paddock Wood: info@heritagepaddockwood.co.uk