Is This The 'Big Scotsman'?
 

From yesterday's Times:

A BATSMAN died when he was struck on the head by a cricket ball which had slipped out of the bowler’s sweaty hand, an inquest was told yesterday.
Jonathon Willis, 39, who had been batting in a cap, not a helmet, collapsed at the wicket during a match between teams from two RAF bases.

The inquest in Truro was told that the Flight Sergeant was hit by a ball bowled by Flying Officer Scott Weir, a pace bowler.

Mr Weir told the coroner that the conditions were hot and sweaty and that he had been having difficulty keeping his hands dry. On the third ball after a refreshment break the ball had slipped out of his hand and become a “beamer”, heading straight for the batsmen’s head. Mr Willis, described as an accomplished batsman, had tried to hook the ball but had misjudged it and was hit behind the right ear.

Flying Officer Weir said: “He missed the shot and the ball made contact with his head. It took him a while to fall down. There seemed to be a delay. I was very shaken. I had never bowled a ball that had caused any injury in my career.

“It was a complete accident caused in my opinion by the conditions and my sweaty hand. I tried to dry my hands.”

Mr Willis had been opening the batting for RAF Lyneham in a midweek cup fixture at St Erme, near Truro, against the local base, RAF St Mawgan, when he was hit.

The inquest was told that he was given immediate first aid and a cricket bail was used to keep his mouth open, but he died from a haemorrhage in the area of the brain where he had been hit.

Flying Officer Martin Taylor, captain of the St Mawgan side, said that it was a slow, flat pitch which was ideal for batting. He said that both openers were playing well and no wicket had fallen after 26 overs of the game.

“In my opinion I would not have worn a helmet on this pitch on this day,” he said.

Dr Edward Carlyon, the West Cornwall Coroner, recorded a verdict of accidental death, adding: “I am satisfied that this was a complete accident. In almost every sport there is some degree of risk.

“It is not for me to comment on the use or non-use of helmets. There seems to be a general consensus that not many players would have been using a helmet on that occasion.

“I am quite satisfied that there was no intent. It was purely an accident.”

Flight Sergeant Willis, who was born in Wembley, had also taken over the captaincy at his local St Stephen Cricket Club in Cornwall. Stan Job, a team-mate, said: “John was a first-class cricketer and a marvellous bloke.”

There is no requirement for adult cricketers to wear a helmet, although the England and Wales Cricket Board states that players under 18 must wear one for batting and keeping wicket unless their parents consent to them not doing so.

The man I knew was a Flt Lt nearly 20 years ago. But who knows what has been going on in the intervening years. Sad little tale.

Scotty certainly left regular service as a flt lt, in 1993 - I was there when he was dined out, resplendant in a french plait. Could he be FTRS now?? He was indeed an all-round cricketer (unusual for North Britons), who was proud of having scored a century for his country (OK, it was Scotland) at Lords.

Indeed it was the cricketing connection that raiseed my interest.

At Aldergrove in 1980, Scotty was bowled out first ball by a Naval Lt (Foster) 'cos the ball was so slow he mis-judged it. Only man in whites too.

F/O rank maybe explained by RAFVR?

Southampton Rules!

The big scotsman in question from my few dealings was nothing more than a large obnoxious glaswegian bully. He took great pleasure in picking favourites and then physically abusing those not in said category.

Possibly his finest moment came in the "Street", for those who remember the old Sgt's mess at Aldergrove, when a certain mild mannered crewman asked him to leave as he was being his usual punchy self. On trying to stand his ground in his sad time honered fashion he failed to realise that "our jack" was a tae kwondoo master who proceedeed to batter f@@k out of him much to the joy of all around.

Various stories have done the rounds since he left the service none more satisfying than the the rumour that he ended up in Barlinnie. Not sure how true the story is but seems quite a fitting end for said individual.

all spelling mistakes are "df" alcohol induced

Ark Royal

Southampton rules!?!

Wot about Felixtowe and Rotterdam rules?

And did we ever establish the largest in the WORLD.............???;) I shall BOW to your superior nautical knowledge mon BEAU ami de ces jours...

Happy days.........

t_h,

I think, indeed I hope, that Arkroyal is talking about a game that is played with an inflated pig's bladder at which Southampton seem do be doing rather well at the moment. When they meet Mr Hoddle's team in the next round of "t'Cup", I hope they will show the said Mr Hoddle how they treat his particular brand of disloyalty.

fobotcso

Nowt to do with the game of foot-the-ball, but more a comment on sticky post-prandial libations @ EGAA in the early '80s, when (it seems) Arkroyal and a youthful t_h probably served together.

Southampton Rules meant "the largest port in UK" (geddit), although some contended that the advent of container shipping made Felixtowe Rules more correct.

Rotterdam implied "the largest port in Europe", and we never did agree on the largest in the world.....

But Joe and Walter the barmen always understood!;) ;)

Thank you t_h, now how did I not remember that?! It must be because that brain cell has been destroyed somewhere along the way since I was last in a bar with your ilk.

EGAA in the early 80s? Me too. 81-83 to be precise (as may be evident from my post above).

Teeteringhead and fobotsco are correct,

I refer to enormous portions of alcohol in the O's mess EGAA 1980 - 1982.

The rules are something musty, but involved a fruit machine, and sometimes the snooker table!

Can't remember much more about it as the game itself was a fulsome destroyer of grey matter. Any grey matter not disolved in alcohol was beaten to death by the aforementioned Frisp. I knew it would take effect sometime.

Now, having been down the Gulf, I think that Jebel Ali would qualify as the largest port in the world! They say it can be seen from space.

Spelling errors due to partaking in Dartmouth rules this evening. Small port, but full of ale. Hic:confused: