THE ORIGINS
It seems to be beyond doubt that the Stoics Cricket Club was founded in 1877 but who first formed it and decided on it's name is not at all certain. However, it is now generally accepted that the man behind it was indeed O R Borradaile and it would seem that his initial concept for the club was to form a means to keep old boys of his school, Westminster, together. What caused him to choose it's name is not recorded. However, while trawling through the club's old minute books, through numerous articles which have been written about it and through match reports across the years, it can be plainly seen that the very best principles of stoicism have been consistently upheld and that pleasant, companionable cricket, tours and social events have been, and still are, the guiding principles of the club.
The club is truly nomadic and has never had a 'home' ground or clubhouse and, if not the first, is one of the very earliest clubs of its kind to have been established. In it's early years the Stoics was mainly an Essex club whose principal regular excursions were tours to play opponents based in Sussex, mainly in the Eastbourne area, in particular to play matches against various prominent schools in that county
Stoicism, which was a school of Hellenistic philosophy, was founded in the teachings of Zeno of Citium (333BC-264BC). The finer points of its ideals, which include forbearance in adversity and the acceptance of fate with impassiveness, would seem to fairly well reflect the ethos and spirit of the club. Other of its several principles, that men should be free from passion, unmoved by joy or grief and should submit without complaint to unavoidable necessity, may not be quite so easily sustained in today's world! However, it is beyond doubt that the club remains, as it always has been, a highly respected representative of today's game even though its tenets are having to adapt to the pressures of present day lifestyles - which are considerably different to those of the early years of the club.
As for it's actual formation, an article in 'The Sporting Life' newspaper of 3 June 1930, in a series of cricket club histories that it was publishing, says that....
'Over half a century ago, O R Borradaile, the old secretary of the Essex County Club, and a few cricket enthusiasts formed a team of wandering sportsmen into a club that is now regarded as one of the very best 'visiting' teams in the country, to which membership is eagerly coveted.
Mr Borradaile was unanimously elected President, in addition to the office of Captain, and for fifty-three seasons he has been the honoured 'head' of the club, and will remain so for as long as he lives. To hold the position of President of a Club for so long a period, and during the whole of its existence, must be a record. At all events, it is one of which all loyal Stoics are extremely proud.
The veteran is still keenly interested in the organisation for which he has rendered such wonderful service and each season he makes a special point of attending the annual match with Eastbourne in company with G H Gadson, another old and valued member, who is now a Vice-President'
In partial contradiction of the above, another article, published in 'The Observer' in 1932, says that the Stoics Cricket Club was originally started in Maidenhead by Messrs E Ferrers and H Sankey with a branch in London which, after three years, they amalgamated. This report says that O R Borradaile and H M Burge, were amongst the original members.
Hubert Murray Burge MA (pictured right) - was born on 9 August 1862 in Kingston, Jamaica. He died on 10 June 1925 at age 62. He was the Headmaster of Winchester College between 1901 and 1911 and then, until 1918, he held the office of Bishop of Southwark before becoming Bishop of Oxford for the period 1919 to 1924. He has an extensive biographical entry in the 'Dictionary of National Biography'. Quite what his cricket playing achievements were is not known.
Oswell Robert Borradaile was born in Westminster on 9 May 1859 and died in Bexhill on Sea on 11 May 1935. He was the secretary of Essex County Cricket Club over the period 1891-1921. As a player he was a right-handed batsman and right-arm medium-pace bowler and his cricketing debut was for Marylebone Cricket Club in 1879. For Essex he made only one first-class appearance, in 1894. It was against Surrey and, from the lower-middle order, he scored 2 runs in the first innings and 5 runs in the second and he took a single catch in the match which his side lost by an innings margin. |
(image courtesy 'Vanity Fair')
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Another, much earlier, extract concerning Borradaile was discovered in 'The Sketch' in an article headed 'World of Sport' published on 23 May 1894. It reads
'Mr O R Borradaile, the secretary of the Essex Club has been indefatigable in his labours for the benefit of the county during the past three years, and to his untiring energy and pluck is due a great deal of the present improved position of the county. He was appointed secretary of the club in October 1890. He was secretary of the well known Stoics for sixteen years and for the past ten seasons has managed the MCC Sussex College tour. Four times he has scored centuries in important matches, twice for the MCC and twice for the Stoics. Mr Borradaile is still a young man. He was born on May 9, 1859 at St Mary's Parsonage, Vincent Square, Westminster and is a son of the late Rev Abram Borradaile who was captain of the Westminster eleven about 1841'.
A third article, published in 'The Cricket Winter Annual for 1937', reads as follows...
'O R Borradaile, who did so much for Essex cricket, founded the Stoics in the year 1877. Originally it was intended that the club membership should be confined to the old boys of Borradaile's school, Westminster. It was soon decided, however, to depart from this qualification and before long the club was closely connected to Essex CCC and such prominent county cricketers as A P Lucas and H G Owen were intimately identified with the Stoics. Altogether between 30 and 40 Stoics have played for a county, including C J Kortwright and R W V Robins. Nowadays the Stoics, whose membership is restricted to 100 playing members, confine their activities almost exclusively to mid-week cricket. The club's colours are blue, crimson and chocolate.'
It is interesting to note that in 1894 the club blazer cost 25 shillings, the cap was 2 shillings, sashes were 10 shillings and sixpence and a monogram in gold was one shilling and sixpence. Also, a rule of the club at that time was that a fine on two shillings and sixpence would be imposed on any player who cried-off from a game without proper notice.
In a further publication, a booklet produced in 1952 to celebrate the 75th year of the club, it is again implied that Borradaile was the sole founder of the club, a claim which was also repeated in yet another account, contributed by V G Bromage, in 'The World of Cricket'. Whatever it’s origins, the club remains a renowned, flourishing, respected organisation which still maintains high values and sporting traditions all within the spirit of stoicism.
Long may it remain so.
'Mr O R Borradaile, the secretary of the Essex Club has been indefatigable in his labours for the benefit of the county during the past three years, and to his untiring energy and pluck is due a great deal of the present improved position of the county. He was appointed secretary of the club in October 1890. He was secretary of the well known Stoics for sixteen years and for the past ten seasons has managed the MCC Sussex College tour. Four times he has scored centuries in important matches, twice for the MCC and twice for the Stoics. Mr Borradaile is still a young man. He was born on May 9, 1859 at St Mary's Parsonage, Vincent Square, Westminster and is a son of the late Rev Abram Borradaile who was captain of the Westminster eleven about 1841'.
A third article, published in 'The Cricket Winter Annual for 1937', reads as follows...
'O R Borradaile, who did so much for Essex cricket, founded the Stoics in the year 1877. Originally it was intended that the club membership should be confined to the old boys of Borradaile's school, Westminster. It was soon decided, however, to depart from this qualification and before long the club was closely connected to Essex CCC and such prominent county cricketers as A P Lucas and H G Owen were intimately identified with the Stoics. Altogether between 30 and 40 Stoics have played for a county, including C J Kortwright and R W V Robins. Nowadays the Stoics, whose membership is restricted to 100 playing members, confine their activities almost exclusively to mid-week cricket. The club's colours are blue, crimson and chocolate.'
It is interesting to note that in 1894 the club blazer cost 25 shillings, the cap was 2 shillings, sashes were 10 shillings and sixpence and a monogram in gold was one shilling and sixpence. Also, a rule of the club at that time was that a fine on two shillings and sixpence would be imposed on any player who cried-off from a game without proper notice.
In a further publication, a booklet produced in 1952 to celebrate the 75th year of the club, it is again implied that Borradaile was the sole founder of the club, a claim which was also repeated in yet another account, contributed by V G Bromage, in 'The World of Cricket'. Whatever it’s origins, the club remains a renowned, flourishing, respected organisation which still maintains high values and sporting traditions all within the spirit of stoicism.
Long may it remain so.