David Rayvern Allen - Arlott: The Authorised Biography

David Rayvern Allens career has embraced television, radio and books. He was, until 1997, a full-time radio producer for the BBC (he continues for them freelance), and has won many awards for his work, including the prestigious Prix Italia. He is also the author or editor of over twenty books, among them Jim: The Life of E. W. Swanton (also published by Aurum), A Breathless Hush: The MCC anthology of cricket verse, The Punch Book of Cricket and five anthologies in collaboration with John Arlott. His biography of Arlott won the Cricket Society Jubilee Literary Award in 1994.

If any book is destined to be a cricket classic, this is it Allen deals with every aspect of Johns life, his sorrows and his social joys Altogether lovers of cricket should be grateful for this candid, sympathetic portrayal of a personality who so eloquently enriched the modern game E.W. Swanton, Cricketer

This is a splendid, sensitive, humorous and wise book: you dont have to be a cricket-lover to enjoy it.

MURRAY HEDGCOCK, The Australian

This is an admirable biography, full, detailed and sympathetic. Allen does not hide Arlotts faults yet he writes with love and as an admirer. Consequently he is able to unfold the story, revealing Arlotts character in the same spirit and with the same success as Arlott himself revealed the character of cricket.

ALLAN MASSIE, Daily Telegraph

This celebration and summary of a man who was pretty near to genius will be relished (his own favourite word) by anyone with a passing interest in such diverse passions as his own myriad of collectibleswine, of course, English cheeses, first editions, pottery, paintings, poetry, engraved glass, Gladstonian prints, Japanese colour-block, Himalayan herbs Great man. Complex man. Very good, uncomplicated biography.

FRANK KEATING, Guardian

David Rayvern Allen knows more about my fathers prolific output (93 books as well as the broadcasts) than anyone else Almost everyone who mattered to my father is interviewed or mentioned, and so are a few who did not.

TIM ARLOTT, The Observer

Any reader who wants to sample most of life should buy this book [which] teems with memories of a Whos Who of life, not just cricket Read it and smileor cry or both.

JACK BANNISTER, Birmingham Post

DAVID RAYVERN ALLEN

ARLOTT

The Authorised Biography

First published in 1994
By Harper Collins

This eBook edition first published in 2014
by Aurum Press Ltd, 7477 White Lion Street, London N1 9PF

Copyright David Rayvern Allen 2004, 2014

David Rayvern Allen has asserted his moral right to be identified as the Author of this Work in accordance with the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved

This eBook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the authors and publishers rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly

Every effort has been made to trace the copyright holders of material quoted in this book. If application is made in writing to the publisher, any omissions will be included in future editions.

eBook conversion by Quayside Publishing Group

Digital edition: 978-1-78131-103-5
Softcover edition: 978-1-78131-227-8

To Rosemary, Lindsay and Briony,
who gave me room and knew when to leave

The making of some books can render the author almost incidental to the process, and this biography fits into that category. A great many people gave freely of their time, hospitality and thoughts during its long gestation, and mere thanks seem a poor reward. I shall be forever grateful.

I was very reliant on the enormous help and support given by John Arlotts wife Pat, his sons Tim and Robert, Dawn and Donald Barrington, Christopher Fielden, Richard France, David Frith, Leslie and Norma Gutteridge, Leo and Joan Harrison, Joe Molloy and Dennis Stevens. Part of their assistance is apparent in the body of the book.

Jack Bannister, Mike Brearley, Jack Donovansadly no longer with usPatrick Eagar, Bill Frindall, Geoffrey Whitelock and John Wilkes also provided invaluable aid, as did the staff at the BBC Written Archives Centre in Caversham, where Gwyniver Jones, Christina Harris, Jeff Walden, John Davy and Guy Delauney were endlessly patient with my queries, realising that, in the last resort, John was most famous as a radio broadcaster, and that it was vital to demonstrate, reveal and recall how unforgettably he illuminated the art.

Many others are deserving of an individual eulogy which space denies. They know what they did, and so do I, and my thanks are none the less: Norman Ackroyd, Penny Ackroyd, Michael Aireton, Rex Alston, Kingsley Amis, Arthur Appleton, Arthur Attwood, Trevor Bailey, Frank Baker, Molly Baldwin, Mike Barnard, Peter Baxter, Staff at BBC Sound Archives, Gramophone Library and Reference Library, Richie Benaud, Barbara Benton, John Bodnar, Ian Botham, Chris Brasher, Chris Breeze, John Bridges, Dorothy and Alan Brisbane, Staff at British Newspaper Library at Colindale, Michael Broadbent, E.K. Brown, Jasmin Butt, Staff at Cambridge University Library, Diana Cappleman, Dennis Castle, Marjorie and Vincent Chapman, Denis Compton, Dick Corbett, Alan Curtis, Count Andr DAquino, Archie Davies, Patric Dickinson, Peter Dobereiner, Basil DOliveira, Marjorie Donovan, Michael Down, David Downs, Bert Duffin, Annabel Eagar, Hazel Edelston, Adrian Edwards, Matthew Engel, Lord (David) Ennals, Godfrey Evans, Ann Fielden, Paul Fitzpatrick, Joan Foa, David Foot, Lord (John) Foot, Debbie Frith, John Gatrell, Alan Gibson, Harold Goldblatt, Alf Gover, Tom Graveney, Stephen Green, Nigel Griffiths, Lord (Jo) Grimond, Hampshire County Police, Robert Harragan, Janet Hart, Reg Hayter, Jackie Hendriks, Eric Hill, Julian Holland, Justine Hopkins, Lord (Denis) Howell, Robert Hudson, Colin Ingleby-Mackenzie, Geoffrey Irving, David Jacobs, Evelyn James, Neil Jenkinson, Brian Johnston, Mark Jones, Frank Keating, Alister Kershaw, Charles Knott, Tony Laughton, Tony Lewis, David Lloyd, Preston Lockwood, Derek Lodge, Trevor McDonald, Alan McGilvray, John McKenzie, Ian McLaughlin, Joyce Malcolm, Christopher Martin-Jenkins, Ron Mattison, Carol May, Michael Melford, Keith Miller, Tony Mitchener, Geoffrey Moorhouse, Jim and Stephie Morgan, Arthur Morris, Roy Nash, Mavis Nicholson, Bill OReilly, Kathy Parker-Allen, Staff at Park Prewett Hospital, Ray Parkin, Michael Parkinson, Tony Pawson, Clive Porter, Staff at Public Record Office and Somerset House, Alain Querre, Barry Reed, Geoffrey Rennard, Georgina Rice-Oxley, Marcus Robertson, Neville Rogers, David Roper, John Samuel, Bonny Sartin, Doris Mingo Saunders, Don Shepherd, Gillian and Peter Sleight, Rachel Smith, Philip Snow, Karen Spink, Helen Steven, Eric Stokes, E.W. Jim Swanton, John Thicknesse, Rt. Hon. Jeremy Thorpe, Ted Tillen, Bryan Timms, Isabella Todd, Frank Tyson, Betty Usher, Richard Walsh, Andrea Watson, Crawford White, Glenys Williams, John Woodcock, Ian Wooldridge, Wilfred Wooller, Derek Wren, Graeme Wright.

I would like to thank the following for permission to reproduce copyright material: the BBC for quotations from letters and memoranda; David Higham Associates Ltd for extracts from