Ashford Cricket Club

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A Tribute to the late Arthur Henton - by Bill Day

Arthur Henton was one of the most respected and popular umpires to wear the white coat for Ashford Cricket Club.

The words "respected" and "popular" are not easy bedfellows these days when addressing the qualities of these custodians of the laws. But, in Arthur Henton, we had an umpire we admired greatly, whose service to the club spanned a period of 40 years.

It is fair to say that Arthur's judgment as an umpire was unrivalled in the district at the time he stood for Ashford. Thanks to him, Ashford's Kent League battles, all-day Sunday matches, midweek games, Cricket Week fixtures and annual tour matches were conducted efficiently without controversy.

And it was customary for opposing captains to give Arthur high marks at the end of matches for the quality and fairness of his work in the middle.

One of the difficulties in building a website like this is to establish and maintain high standards of accuracy. In writing this tribute to Arthur Henton, I realise I am short of dates and facts, even if the main thrust of my admiration for him does not necessarily depend on cold facts and statistics. I am hoping that other members, better briefed than me on Arthur's service to the club, will fill in the gaps to improve this valediction.

Arthur's umpiring duties were not confined to Barrow Hill, our former ground, and Ball Lane. He officiated in many district representative matches for the AKCC and would often be appointed to umpire the finals of such competitions, both at senior and junior levels.

He stood for Ashford from the launch of the Kent League in the early 70s and, as such, was always the epitome of fair play and sound decisions.

Arthur was a regular on the annual Ashford tours to Worcestershire. He would go for the week, and stand in all the matches, often after a heavy night at the bar. I say "the bar". My recollection is of Arthur sunk deep in an armchair, stroking a glass of whisky at the end of play in some distant clubhouse at Chaddesley Corbett, Hagley, Ombersley or Old Vigornians.

He could sink several malts over the course of an evening with his Ashford chums without fear of impairing his ability to stand in a match the following day.

He also became a popular and respected umpire for the Circus Cavaliers, run for many years by the late George Brann.

Before he took up umpiring, he played club cricket at a pretty high level, and worked, I believe, for the Army before retirement.

But it was as a man in a white coat, we remember him best. Arthur Henton set an example that many younger umpires copied. He stood still, focussed, watchful, cautious, careful, but sure always of his ground when making a decision. No video replays in those days, but the popular
consensus was that Arthur was one of the best club umpires in the region.

He was a long serving member of the Association of Cricket Umpires & Scorers, wearing the club badge with pride on his pocket as proof of the quality training he received. In that capacity, he was responsible for teaching younger umpires the trade he plied so commendably for so many years.

My efforts to persuade Arthur that leg break bowlers were as entitled as any other variety to trap batsmen leg before fell well short of expectations, despite long sessions in his company at the bar after matches. During the length of our association, I cannot recall Arthur raising his finger once in response to my pleas for lbw. Quiet words in his ear at the end of an over along the lines:- "Arthur, for Christ's sake, that was a top spinner" carried no weight with the great man.

"Get on with your own job and leave the umpiring to me" was Arthur's terse response.

I suspect he is still turning down lbw appeals from leggers on that great track in the sky. Meanwhile, we are left to cherish our memories of Arthur Henton, lovely man, great umpire, good friend, much missed, irreplaceable.