Acknowledgements

The idea for this book stemmed from a simple question which crystallised in my mind in years of reading Wodehouse: just how good a cricketer was Plum? Might he have got his Blue, perhaps played for a county, if he had gone to Oxford, instead of being thrust into the world of banking?

Sir Edward Cazalet was most helpful in my early inquiries, and approved the initial article I wrote for Wisden Cricket Monthly. Tony Ring, who pushed the idea that my original research should be expanded, and provided the introductions necessary to the publishing world, has been a security blanket as well as a catalyst, and an endless source of material. I am much in his debt for his cheery readiness to share the depth of his Wodehouse knowledge, and the range of his remarkable collection.

Colonel Norman Murphy was encouraging and helpful in one vital area, confirming that he had found no detail of Plum’s post-Dulwich cricket other than his Authors’ appearances – effectively reassuring me that if N.T.P. Murphy had found nothing, then it was improbable that anyone would do so. Barry Phelps also responded swiftly and positively to queries, as did the doyen of them all, Richard Usborne.

Dr Jan Piggott at Dulwich was an essential part of the information team, even if my first visit to his treasure house was made in time of domestic flood (to my heartfelt relief, no Wodehouse documents were affected).

His predecessor, Margaret Slythe, also had helpful thoughts to offer and made most encouraging comments.

Old Alleynian Trevor Bailey (humorously resigned to being quizzed yet again about the notorious description of his batting against St Paul’s in 1939) and his old skipper A.C. Shirreff, who expanded on Plum’s delight at the Eleven’s 1938 unbeaten run, were appreciated on-the-spot witnesses.

Mike Griffith was kind in explaining his relationship as Wodehouse’s godson, who inherited his Christian name from Wodehouse’s greatest cricketing character.

Michelle Simpson was much appreciated for providing copies of the Public School Magazine, once we found our way to the A & C Black archives in the delightful village of Eaton Soken.

David Rayvern Allen produced an invaluable file of Punch material on cricket stemming from his own researches, and a welcome Wodehouse letter to John Arlott.

David Frith as ever was interested in something beyond the normal pattern of cricket writing, to give my preliminary article welcome exposure in Wisden Cricket Monthly.

MCC curator Stephen Green and his colleagues were helpful as always in pointing me in the right direction in the Lord’s collection, not least in producing a forgotten picture of Wodehouse in 1902, with The Authors XI.

Richard Morris and David Moriarty of the Wodehouse Society were encouraging, while Frits Menschaar, New York collector, dealer and enthusiast, proved that Americans can indeed have a true feeling for cricket with his helpful thoughts and detail.

John Hayward, Yorkshire-born secretary of the Hollywood Cricket Club, was a cheerful collaborator in checking Wodehouse links with that happy band of exiles – but alas, could find no proof that Plum ever actually donned flannels in the States.

Sir Donald Bradman was courteous and kindly as he always is to his vast network of correspondents, responding promptly to my inquiry whether he had met Plum with the touring Australian cricket team in Los Angeles in 1932.

My family was indulgent as its various members have always been about my highways and byways of enthusiasms: my wife Petra, one of those people who found Wodehouse in youth but no longer read him, made all the right responses when I needed encouragement or motivation, as she has done throughout so many rewarding years together.

And Tony Whittome at Hutchinson was sympathetically and breezily persuasive and helpful throughout an old newspaper hand’s introduction to the mysterious new world of book publishing.