City of Westminster
Item No.
CMfCS/10/2003
Decision-maker
Date
Title of Report
CABINET MEMBER
FOR CUSTOMER
SERVICES
30 July
2003
COMMEMORATIVE GREEN
PLAQUE FOR CRICKETER,
ARTHUR HAYGARTH ( 1825-1903 )
CLASSIFICATION FOR GENERAL
RELEASE
Report of Director of Planning and
Transportation
Wards Involved
Warwick
Policy Context
The commemorative Green Plaques scheme
complements a number of Council strategies: to
improve the legibility and understanding of
Westminster’s heritage and social history; to provide
information for Westminster’s visitors; to provide
imaginative and accessible educational tools to
raise awareness and understanding of local areas,
particularly for young people; to celebrate the
richness and diversity of Westminster’s former
residents.
Cost of plaque and installation will be met by
sponsorship
Financial Summary
1.
Summary
1.1
The Haygarth Society have nominated Arthur Haygarth for a
commemorative green plaque. The plaque will be positioned on the
front façade of 88 Warwick Way, where he died on 1st May 1903, aged
77. Arthur Haygarth is arguably the most important figure in the field
of cricket historical research and, in addition, was one of the finest
cricketers of his era. He will be the first sportsman to be celebrated
under the Green Plaques Scheme.
1.2
The Chairman of the Planning & Development Committee has been
consulted on the report and concurs with the recommendation.
2.
RECOMMENDATIONS
2.1
That the nomination for a commemorative green plaque for cricketer,
Arthur Haygarth, be approved, subject to the City Council receiving
sponsorship in full.
Background Information
3.
3.1
The Green Plaques Scheme was launched in 1991 when a plaque
commemorating Winston Churchill was unveiled on Caxton Hall, SW1.
By the end of March 2003, 52 plaques had been installed and
unveiled. The Scheme is valued by local residents and has been
sponsored and supported in the majority of cases by both residents'
associations, amenity groups and local businesses.
3.2
Haygarth’s contribution to cricket is enormous. He wrote 15 books on
the game’s history and another 19 volumes of his famous “Scores and
Biographies”. Although he did not make many runs himself, by keeping
up his wicket for hours on the very bad pitches of his time, he enabled
his team players opportunities to do so.
4.
Detail
4.1
Arthur Haygarth was born in Hastings on 4 August 1825. In 1844 he
became a member of the MCC and joined the Marylebone Cricket
Club. He generally went on pitch early to take the “sting” out of the
bowling. The autumn edition of the “Guide” in 1860 said, “His defence
is really perfect, and he will play the best bowling with the greatest
science and ease. He will take a long time to get an innings, and is of
consequence of great annoyance to his opponents.” At Lord’s,
Haygarth’s worth at the wicket was measured not by the runs he
scored but by the length of time he took to make them. Ten or twelve
runs per hour was his average.
4.2
Haygarth spent many years collecting and arranging scores of all good
matches, adding footnotes and remarks and biographical notices. He
wrote articles for ‘Cricket’ merely “for the love of the game”. But it is
mostly for his compilation of cricket ‘Scores and Biographies’ that he
will be remembered. For 60 years he worked loyally on this selfimposed task. ‘Scores and Biographies’ comprises in 14 volumes all
the information obtainable from 1746 to 1878, with a supplement
concerning notable players for the next 20 years. The volumes
appeared at fairly regular intervals between 1862 and 1895. The first
four, bound in purple cloth, were published by Frederick Lillywhite, son
of William Lillywhite, who was the roundarm bowler without equal, 10
years earlier. The last 11 editions, bound in red cloth, with gilded
lettering and ornamented with an armorial design of a shield
embodying the stumps, bat and ball, were produced at the sole
expense of the Marylebone Club.
4.3
Arthur Haygarth never forgot his school, Harrow School, and assisted
with cricket coaching regularly until 1870. The railway was not entirely
built at that time and he would regularly walk to Harrow from his home
in central London. He served on many M.C.C. committees and was
elected a life member in 1864.
4.4
Arthur Haygarth died on 1st May 1903, whilst living at 88 Warwick Way.
He is buried at West Brompton Cemetary. The fifteenth and last
volume of ‘Scores and Biographies’ did not appear until 23 years later.
5.
Financial Implications
5.1
The plaque will cost £170 and installation £100. The Haygarth Society
will meet this cost in full.
6.
Legal Implications
6.1
Owners and occupiers have accepted standard terms and conditions.
No other issues or implications to report.
7.
Staffing Implications
7.1
None.
8.
Performance Plan Implications
8.1
This nomination will contribute to the quota of up to 5 plaques annually.
9.
Consultation
9.1
The owners and occupiers of 88 Warwick Way have been consulted
and they support the proposal to mount a plaque commemorating the
life and achievements of Arthur Haygarth, on the front façade of the
property. The Haygarth Society have also consulted widely amongst
their membership and the world of Cricket. A number of letters of
support have been received and they are listed as background papers.
9.2
The Chairman of the Planning & Development Committee has been
consulted on the report and concurs with the recommendation.
10.
Crime and Disorder Act
10.1
No issues arising.
11.
Health and Safety Issues
11.1
No issues arising.
12.
Human Rights Act 1998
12.1
No issues arising.
13.
Reason for Decision
13.1
As a nation, the UK is still pre-eminent in the organisation and
administration of sport and sporting events. We have also developed
expertise in chronicling sport. Much of our skill in the field of sports
organisation comes from the principles laid down in the Victorian era.
Westminster has an opportunity, in supporting this nomination, not only
to include a sportsman amongst those celebrated by the Green
Plaques Scheme, but to acknowledge and celebrate our national
achievements in sport and sports administration. Cricket provided the
administrative model for the organisation of many other sports.
Haygarth’s lasting testimonial, the book Scores and Biographies, was
the first great collected record of a sport, a method since copied by
Wisden and later for numerous other sports. Arthur Haygarth is
considered to be worthy of a Green Plaque, subject to sponsorship in
full. The plaque will be unveiled during 2003 which is the centenary
year of his death.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUERIES ABOUT THIS REPORT OR WISH TO
INSPECT ANY OF THE BACKGROUND PAPERS, PLEASE
CONTACT GILLIAN M DAWSON ON 020 7641 2457; EMAIL
ADDRESS gdawson@westminster.gov.uk; FAX NUMBER 020 7641
3050
BACKGROUND PAPERS
The documents used or referred to in compiling the report were: 1. Committee Reports establishing the Green Plaques Scheme
2. Design of the proposed plaque
3. Photomontage showing plaque on front of building
4. Map showing location of 88 Warwick Way
5. Promotional leaflet for commemorative Green Plaques Scheme
6. letters of consent and support received:
a) consent from freeholder, 20.07.02
b) offer of sponsorship from Roger Heavens, 21.08.02
c) letter of support from Alan Victor Jones, 10.04.03
d)letter of support from Colin Roe, 08.04.03
e) letter of support from Mervyn Carson, 11.04.03
f) letter of support from Kenneth Huggett, 12.04.03
g) letter of support from Keith Hayhurst , chairman of Cricket
Memorabilia Society, 15.04.03
h) Letter of support from G.C.Brazier, 04.03
i) Letter of support from David Fraser, 21.04.032
j) letter of support from Bill Fletcher, 29.04.03
k) letter of support from Stephen Baldwin
l) letter of support from Stephen Beagley, 14.05.03
For completion by Cabinet Member
Declaration of Interest

I have no interest to declare in respect of this report
Signed ……………………………. Date ………………………………
NAME:

I have to declare an interest
State nature of interest ……..……………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………..
Signed ……………………………. Date …………………………………
NAME:
(N.B: If you have an interest you should seek advice as to whether it is
appropriate to make a decision in relation to this matter.)
For the reasons set out above, I agree the recommendation in the report
entitled Commemorative Green Plaque for cricketer Arthur Haygarth
(1825 - 1903).
Signed ………………………………………………
Cabinet Member for ……………………………….
Date …………………………………………………
If you have any additional comment which you would want actioned in
connection with your decision you should discuss this with the report author
and then set out your comment below before the report and this pro-forma is
returned to the Secretariat for processing.
Additional comment: …………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………….
NOTE: If you do not wish to approve the recommendations, or wish to make
an alternative decision, it is important that you consult the report author, the
Director of Legal and Administrative Services, the Chief Financial Officer and,
if there are staffing implications, the Head of Personnel (or their
representatives) so that (1) you can be made aware of any further relevant
considerations that you should take into account before making the decision
and (2) your reasons for the decision can be properly identified and recorded,
as required by law.
Note to Cabinet Member: Your decision will now be published and
copied to the Members of the relevant Overview & Scrutiny Committee.
If the decision falls within the criteria for call-in, it will not be
implemented until five working days have elapsed from publication to
allow the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to decide whether it wishes
to call the matter in.