It is with great sadness that we learned that Les had lost his battle against cancer yesterday, a battle he fought with great dignity and courage. In 2007 our club wrote a book which documented the clubs history since we formed in 1882, and in that our Chairman Roy Quennell wrote a testimonial about Les which we have reproduced below.
Les was a much respected and frequent visitor to Compton Park and we will miss him dearly.
From everyone connected with Cogenhoe Cricket Club we would like to express our sincere condolences to Lorna , David and his family.
Les Robjohns – A Testimonial by Roy Quennell
As a youngster growing up in Cogenhoe one of the highlights of the summer was watching Cogenhoe play cricket. From my home in Station Road I could see preparations being made for the afternoon games, the gang mowers on the outfield and the matting being rolled out. I was very influenced by watching players like Tim Street, Joe Deer, Geoff Waldron, Bob Sketchley, Tarps and my uncle Brian Foley and I still today have vivid memories of those long hot summer days. Les Robjohns was also one of those players who I watched and wanted to be like. I wanted to be able to hit a ball like him , score lots of runs like him and bowl like him. Unfortunately for Cogenhoe and myself those dreams never materialised due solely to my lack of cricketing ability, but watching Les play cricket was an abiding memory of my childhood.
Born in Tredegar on October 7 th 1935 Les grew up in Wales and played for Monmouthshire schoolboys in games against other districts of Wales in games that were viewed as trials for Glamorgan. Glamorgan themselves were the strongest of these sides fielding players like Tony Lewis who went on to become England Captain. These schoolboy fixtures also saw Les play at his two favourite venues New Road Worcester and The Thomas Richard Ground in Gloucester. After leaving school Les joined the RAF, doing his National Service at RAF Hope Cove for whom he also played cricket.
On leaving the RAF, Les headed for Essex where got a job working for Daganite Batteries in Dagenham, probably better known to us as Exide Batteries.Les began to play club cricket firstly with Brookweald and then Navestock, where he faced players such as John Lever and Graham Smith who both went on to play for Essex and who Les says were the best two bowlers he ever faced. Whilst at a party with his good friend Clive Gildersleeves , Les spotted an attractive young lady and said to Clive “ that’s the girl I`m going to marry “. That girl was Lorna and in 1965 Les and Lorna were married with Clive as best man.
A year later Les got a job with Porvair in Northampton and this meant Les and Lorna having to move from Upminster to Northampton. It was a stroke of luck that Les and Lorna ended up in Cogenhoe. Lunch with Les`s new boss at Castle Ashby meant that they drove through the village and noticed a new development being built which we all know as Bramley Close. Lorna liked the look of the one house that was built and so together the decision was made to by a plot which would eventually become 5 Bramley Close.
There was however a small stumbling block which was the price. In the sixties only the mans wage was taken into consideration when applying for a mortgage, however Les`s boss promised him a mortgage if he agreed to play rugby for Old Scouts. Summer of 1967 saw Les attending to the garden of 5 Bramley Close, a garden he said would be a big selling point in later years !! The following summer saw Les begin his playing career with Cogenhoe, with his league debut against St Lawrences on June 8 th. Les opened the bowling and had figures of 13-6-26-2, he then opened the batting and made 62 not out in a 2 wicket win. Les continued to score runs and take wickets for the rest of the season and often opened both batting and bowling. On August 24 th at home to Prims XLCR II, Les had the remarkable figures of 10.5-0-28-9. Les then scored 22 not out to ensure an 8 wicket win. 1968 saw Les play 7 league games score 226 runs and take 27 wickets.
Whilst Les was doing his bit on the field wife Lorna was playing her part off of it as one of the legendary Cogenhoe Tea Ladies. Lorna was also teaching at Cogenhoe Primary School and in 1968 wrote on a certain 7 year olds report that his Story writing was “ Very good. Has excellent ideas and good expression” and nearly 40 years later I am still reaping the benefit of having such a good teacher. Thank you Mrs Robjohns.
Lorna was also a leading light in the ladies netball team which played in the cricket festival and has also contributed to this book with an article about the Tea Ladies.
In 1969 a delivery of a different kind and one which both Les and Lorna I`m sure would describe as a special one as son David was born. Over the coming years the garden of 5 Bramley Close would become Cardiff Arms Park in the winter and Lords in the summer as young David and his friend from up the road young Jason Roberts, scored countless runs and tries under the watchful eye of Les. Now 38 years old David his wife Claire and daughter Anna Lily live in Poole where David is still playing and opening for Poole Town in the Dorset league. Despite being captain of Poole David would still ring up home to let mum and dad know of his progress and who the opposition were at the weekend. Les would always offer the same advice
“ play in the V and get your first ten runs in singles “. If Les was out then Lorna would offer the very same advice.
That advice has not only helped David but was also the reason Les had such a superb record in league cricket for Cogenhoe. 133 appearances netted 3 809 runs and 197 wickets . Those three thousand plus runs included 3 centuries , against Moulton 136, Prims XLCR II 117* and St Lawrences 110*. Bowling saw Les take a 9,8 and 7 wicket hauls but surprisingly never a 6 for. Les played league cricket for Cogenhoe from 1968 until 1983 and would have no doubt added to his runs and wickets tally had he not suffered a broken leg in 1979 playing football as a favour for Lorna ! or managed just two games in 1979 due to a back and hand injury. Les has many happy memories of his times playing for Cogenhoe , the many many friends he made, the competitiveness of a fixture against Billing and batting with regular opening partner Jim Dorr and with Tim Street who Les describes as the most hair raising to bat with due to his calling !
In 1972 Les won the Ronson award for batting in the Town League. Les later served on the committee of the town League and was responsible for bringing the Tony Manning Trophy back to Cogenhoe in 2006 following the Town Leagues sad demise.
Apart from cricket Rugby Union was Les`s other passion and his contribution to The Old Scouts is certainly worthy of a mention. Some 30 years ago along with his friend David Mayes , Les set up mini rugby at the Old Scouts and it was through that system that Saints and England World Cup winners Ben Cohen and Steve Thompson learnt their rugby. Les was also the Chairman of the Old Scouts and still watches games today. 2007 has seen Les play probably his most important innings as he battles against stomach cancer and I am delighted to say it is another one of those glorious displays of his and I am delighted to report that Les is still in top form.
Back in 1967 I was aged 6 and my school report said “could be improved with more concentration “
It was not Les remarking on my cricketing skills but Lorna s comments on my writing. I for one am grateful that you both came to live in Cogenhoe.
What a lovely tribute to Les, you must be very proud Lorna. Margaret, Hereford