Too young for memories .. Graham 'Bumble' Lloyd and John 'Dexter' Fitton ..not really!

A night in Rochdale with two pals, looking back, looking forward, laughing, and laughing some more .. Thank you Val's!

Some self-indulgence here: and a word of warning. My editor is paddling on a lake somewhere, enjoying summer sun, and some well-earned down-time. Therefore, this is my best write-and-edit effort. Recounting a recent night, spent with two great pals. I hope you enjoy.

The Hare&Hounds is a typical North Lancashire public house. Set in the pleasing village of Bamford, just outside of Rochdale. It welcomed me with an underwhelming beer selection, no problem, which, unfortunately, was evened out by an over-extensive new-age lager offering. Such are the times!

“Where does Dexter normally sit” was my opening salvo - I was sure the staff would know ‘John Dexter Fitton’ - I mean, who doesn’t? Blank looks followed - personally I can sympathise with JD; after spending the last four weeks walking around Didsbury village (Manchester) without a single second look. Such are the times! - I guess.

John Dexter Fitton, son of Derrick and Jean Fitton, has always gone by Dexter, or variations of that.

Derrick, one of the funniest men I have had the pleasure of knowing, the beauty of his humour was he didn’t try - or think he was. It was Derrick who wedged the ‘Dexter’ in-between John, and Fitton.

Edward Ralph Dexter (CBE) - also known as Ted Dexter, or Lord Ted, was Derrick’s favourite cricketer growing up. At first look, it is an odd association. Dexter was born in Italy, raised in the bosom of Southern England, educated at Radley College, which led to Cambridge University. A long way removed from the spinning cotton mills of Rochdale.

Nonetheless, Derrick had his man in Ted Dexter, and then chose to give his name to his son. John Dexter Fitton. Ironically, John Dexter got to meet his namesake in Cambridge, while representing Lancashire Federation U-19’s. This was a good while since

Back to the Hare&Hounds - JD lives approximately the length of Patrick Patterson’s run-up from the front door, and, he says, “he hardly gets in the place” Those that know JD Fitton, might argue against this statement! This time I took him at face value.

Still, this was to be the venue for our three-year reunion. And, the third member of the triumvirate was busy parking his Ford Capri - enter, Graham David Lloyd. I mention the ‘Ford Capri’ because; he did own one back in the day. And, I believe, rocked up to one of his ODI games in the 80’s classic. Bumble has always been his own man.

Much of this is down to being a son of a famous father. His father, David Lloyd, enjoyed a multi-dimensional cricket career. First as a player, representing Lancashire and England, then as a Coach, also Lancashire and England. Then, you guessed it, an umpire. Then there was the venerable foray into the media world, where he was almost untouchable. I am led to believe his current hiatus in that space will be short-lived.

Lancashire CCC was the entity that brought the three of us together professionally, although we had played with, and against, each other through years of junior and club cricket. 1987, being our first year on the staff at LCCC -found us quite rightly condemned to a locker each in the infamous ‘shit-house’ - the furtherest point from the first-team dressing room, that proved to be inaccessible for a number of years. Still, it was our collective start.

Regardless, we were again re-united and it was wonderful.  

Time to order.

Bumble confided - he has become a ‘beer-snob’ “It’s OK Geoff - these things happen with age.” I reassured him. After rooming with Bumble for ten years, this was particularly hard to compute!

Anyway, Bumble and I opted for a house IPA. Dexter, ever the modernist, and staying with the times, promptly ordered a Birra Moretti. Blasphemy. Maybe this was the Italian connection with his father’s hero.

JD then proceeded to tell us that ‘Birra Moretti is an Italian brewing company, founded in Udine in 1859 by Luigi Moretti. And then ‘in 1996, the company was acquired by Heineken N.V. The brewing plant in Udine was sold to the newly formed Birra Castello S.p.A.; Moretti is now a brand of Heineken.’  

Geoff and I didn’t believe a word of it - ‘piss-off’ - choosing to label him a hypocrite, and an expensive one at that.

I’m not sure if it is the same for you; but, when we talk about colleagues, it’s only then that you realise the number of aliases that some players have. Initially, I have chosen to include various guises for Dexter and Graham (that does not sound right): JD, Dex, Bumble, Geoff. Then there is; Aubrie, GD, and the one they both share freely - Val.

Also in conversation throughout the night were: ‘the large one’ ‘digger’ ‘daffy’ ‘winker’ ‘chucky’ ‘ralph’ ‘ris’ ‘pearly’ ‘harv’ ‘dread’ - the list could go on, and perhaps I will leave you to try and decode!

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Back to ‘Val’ - I know it had something to do with renowned TV presenter Valerie Singleton - quite what the inference, I do not know.

I could/should message them and ask for verification on where ‘Val’ comes in; that would be cheating though, best to surmise, and draw disparate conclusions. When the discourse between them becomes heated, generally around football, ‘Val’ comes into play from both sides. Perhaps it’s a collaborative strategy to avoid forgetting each others name. Are Bumble and Dex that smart!?

The football part is simple ‘red and blue - or ‘blue and red’

Bumble being the red, and Dex being the blue. Neither gave an inch, blindly toeing the party line through thick and thin. Dex has copped plenty in the past. Currently, Bumble, is receiving a good deal of his own medicine, as the blue flag flies high, and the red flag wafts limply at half-mast. To their combined credit they are both season-ticket holders. I doff my blue hat to both Val’s.

Back row rom left: Oscar, Bumble, Dex, Me, Richie, Spud, Chuck, Two-Heads

So, what are we all doing now? Recovering.

No, I am here scribbling away, trying to make sense of this contemporary want to write. And, there is the coaching.

Bumble is forging a significant career as an umpire; I am truly amazed he crossed to the dark-side. He did though, and shows a natural aptitude for the job.

And, Dex, well, he keeps the wheels of industry turning in his home town, Rochdale. Hanson Springs has been his work-home for the past three decades. He is as parochial as ever when it comes to Gracie Fields, and Rochdale.

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Of the many stories we recalled, there is probably one that stands out as both unique, and maybe career-defining. Or, neither.

We agreed on the year - 1989. Dex was playing in the ones, holding his place with his aggressive off-spin, and late-order batting (he will always say he never batted high enough) - if truth be told - Dex was an all-rounder.

Bumble and I were going OK in the two’s - awaiting opportunities. “Keep going you lads, you’re not far away” - wise words from Coach John Savage.

I’m pretty sure Bumble played his first game of the year at The Parks - against Oxford University. I can hear you now - they don’t count. Well, let me tell you - you had to make them, and he did, making 108 in the first innings.

The next Championship game he was omitted.

The next hundred came at Worksop, playing Nottinghamshire.

Bumble started with 31 in the first innings, then added a sublime hundred in the second innings, finishing with 117. Franklin Stephenson proved a difficult proposition for me personally; less so Bumble. Dex batted too high in the first innings (the scorecard is in the link)

Next minute … Bumble is omitted for the following Championship game. And me, not in the discussion, which was perfectly legit.

There was a joint inclusion for an away game at Chesterfield. Derbyshire’s attack being far too good for us both on a helpful wicket. Neil Fairbrother made one of the very best hundreds I've seen in my career. Ian Bishop was at his equal best. It was Just fine to be a spectator!

We, Bumble and I, were then recalled for a home game, at Lytham, against Essex in early August.

Bumble peeled off an amazing second-innings hundred, countering the spin of John Childs with aplomb, and I managed a 60-odd, which felt like 160-odd (it wasn’t as easy for me) - Dex bowled tidily without a wicket.

You guessed it … Bumble omitted for the next Championship game. And, me not in the discussion.

So, he made three hundreds, and on each occasion was dropped for the next game. Can you start to imagine how that would go down in the current player-driven climate! I coach batters who expect to go up the grades with a well-made 40, against club bowlers.

Fortunately, Bumble, had the career he had, which was outstanding. Dexter’s ended too early, in my opinion; I guess there are many factors at play there, and this column is not the place. And, for me, I had the career I had also, unfortunately, not finishing it where I started. But, that’s OK - as they say.

We are still mates - and had a truly memorable evening; looking back with shared fondness, trying to be in the present (this was difficult), and also taking a look through the prism of what might be next for us, and the rest of the crew.

Bumble, I will be taking a close look at your umpiring Saturday, go well. Dex, you need to use the Hare& Hounds more regularly, and get off that bloody Moretti. For me, it’s simple: try to write better.

The RTBC.

PS. Photo’s on request … please leave a comment