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Graham Borwell

Posted : 13/12/2007 21:24

Subject : Sparky - Caught speeding on a bike !

I KNEW OF Christopher Senior's existence before I met him. I was the P.E teacher at Rothelawe School, Ashford and had had the pleasure of teaching two delightful Senior sisters. I believe they joined the Army and, I'm sure, would have been a credit to their parents and the Army. Anyway, I was told that their baby brother was due to arrive the following September. He did.

I can only describe Christopher as being like a young Labrador puppy, full of fun and goodwill but having little or no self-discipline. He has never changed! Try as he might, it was almost impossible to get him to take off his Chelsea top. We had a member of staff who was convinced that the behaviour of boys was directly related to the football club they supported. In his opinion, Chelsea was most definitely at the bottom of the pile. To justify this reasoning,he always mentioned Senior as being a fine example.

There was no doubt that Christopher was a talent. He was a decent athlete and a fair footballer in the making, and basically, we got on well. He was well-liked by his classmates which included, I seem to remember, Carter and Sargeant. Christopher was having a little trouble with reading and writing but that was of little concern to me, or so I thought.

In his second year, I selected him to represent the school in the district athletic championships. The boys were allowed to enter 1 track and 2 field events or 2 track and one field event. Teams with names and events had to be sent in a week before the championships. On the day, Solomon Sargeant was missing, an important member of the relay squad also taking part in the long jump. Sitting in the pen, making sure that the boys got off to the correct event at the correct time, I decided that Christopher had to replace his mate Solly. He was doing more events than allowed. We reckoned that if he gave his name as Sargeant, no one would notice. I'm sure that Christopher won't mind me saying, but it was important that Solly's replacement needed to be -shall we say- of the same colour (having just read Littlejohn's book, not sure what I can say anymore!) The long jump was taking place in front of our pen. Christopher reported and as rehearsed, gave his name as Solomon Sargeant. The officials asked him to spell that. He replied that he couldn't but would go and ask Mr Borwell. Result: everyone around the long jump pit, on their backs, legs in the air, roaring with laughter...

Nicknames, I'm sure he had a few, as I'm sure I did. I worked with a Scottish girl in the P.E Department and she always called Christopher 'Christabell'. He was not amused!

In his 5th Year, I suggested to Christopher that he went up to the Ashford nets at Barrow Hill the following Tuesday. When I arrived, Christopher was already there and bowling. Eventually, I had a bat and to everyone's amusement, the first bowl I received was a Beamer. No prizes for guessing who bowled it.

After trying to look after him in the first team on Sunday, it wasn't long before I picked him for the first team on a Saturday and he soon became a successful member of the side. He had the annoying habit, however, of putting up his hand and calling me 'Sir'. Everyone else started doing the same! I had to have a quiet word and told him to call me Graham at the club. I don't think he ever did, but he stopped calling me 'Sir'.

That season, we played at Folkestone in the Kent League. The wicket was like a shirt front and Folkestone batted first. Folkestone set off like a train and the opening bowlers were getting a caning. I was a little reluctant to put young Christopher on and see him get smashed all around the ground, but he was selected on ability and needed to face the fire at some stage. During the first over, everything went quietly and he bowled beautifully. Alan Ealham was playing - on a rare day off from Kent, having had a problem or two with them - and asked to stand at first slip to Christopher's bowling. At the end of five overs, he had a quiet word with Ashford's new bowler, pointing out that three balls every over were county class, the rest rubbish! But Sparky got better, and better, and became a fine Kent League bowler. I am so pleased he has done so well for the club - and is still bowling.

I well remember one particular Tuesday net session. Christopher left nets on his bike and was stopped by a police patrol on the way home. He was cautioned for speeding.

I am pleased to have played a small part in Christopher's development as a cricketer. I am even more pleased that he has remained at Ashford and has become a well-liked and respected member of the club and has taken several responsible posts. I never called him 'Sparky', by the way, always 'Christopher'. He, of course, always called me 'Sir'.

*By the way, my wife, Catherine, taught Christopher French at Rothelawe. He was top of the class, she tells me.