The Tyler Cricket Connection
Tuesday 9th July 2002

Before coming to Liverpool, the Tylers lived in England's smallest county, Rutland, Records reveal that Ralph (Bernard's father) had a great record as a league professional and coach. He coached at the two famous public schools in Rutland, Oakham and Uppingham (Frank Hayes is the present coach at Oakham). Ralph thought that APF Chapman was the best of many good cricketers with an Oakham or Uppingham education.

His league clubs extended to Yorkshire, Lancashire and Staffordshire. Wigan CC had him as their professional and coach before the First World War. The Wigan club members awarded him a gold medal for scoring over a thousand runs in 1913.

Bernard was Ralph's only son and he was probably a better cricketer as his skills as an all rounder were noticed by Northamptonshire CCC and he was on their staff for the seasons 1923 and 1924. His wicket keeping was noticed by Leicestershire CCC and they took him on as cover for Tommy Sidwell in 1926 and 1928. During this time, Ralph and Bernard were playing in a match at Oakham: Rutland v Leicestershire Club and Ground. Playing for Rutland, they opened the innings and both scored centuries. The score was 238 when Ralph gave his wicket away and the declaration came. This was believed to be a family record.

It was in 1928 that Liverpool CC took Bernard on as their senior professional, for his medium fast bowling and coaching ability. They employed at least three professionals at that time. Their duty was to bowl in the practice nets from Monday through to Thursday evening, when required by the amateurs. Friday evening was a night off to get ready for a long spell of bowling on Saturday. The club was closed on Sunday. Bernard, as senior professional, played in the 1st XI with all public school members. The team sheet just showed 'TYLER'. The professionals had their own changing room on the ground floor and their own entrance gate to the field of play.

After the game he was not allowed to join the amateurs in the pavilion bar, so he usually went to the 'Aigburth' pub over the road for a refreshing drink and a game of billiards on one of the two tables in this very popular hotel. His skill on the table usually meant that he didn't have to buy his beer at five old pennies (2p) a pint. His 'digs' during the cricket season were with the Dixon family in Fernwood Road, a very happy arrangement.

In October 1935, the Liverpool CC head groundsman JW Meads decided to retire and Bernard Tyler was asked to take over this demanding job. There were usually three full county games and many two day games during the summer. As soon as cricket ended, top class rugby union took over. Liverpool RUFC played against all the best clubs on the lower ground, attracting large crowds. Lancashire also played at least one game at Liverpool each season. The two large grandstands on the lower ground were always full.

Taking over this full time job meant that Bernard's family moved from Rutland to live in the cottage on the ground. The family included wife Lena, daughter Janet, and son Ray. After giving nearly forty years of loyal service to the club, the headquarters of Merseyside cricket, he retired to live with his wife in Hollies Road, Halewood. Bernard and his wife often came back to the club to watch cricket and meet friends and Bernard joined the members on the bowling green.

It was a natural progression for only son, Ray, to play the same sport. He was twelve years old on arrival in Liverpool. Whilst at Heath Road School, he was fortunate to have Arthur Corrin in charge of cricket. The school won the 'Uncle Stalky' cup in 1937. This team included two boys who became top class professionals in their sports, Jim Large (golf) and Eddie Spicer (football).

At this time, to become a member of Liverpool CC, it was still 'Public School' only. Ray therefore  could not join as he was, following Heath Road, being educated at Toxteth Technical Institute, followed by night school at the City of Liverpool Technical College.

However, Eddie Spicer and Ray were invited to bowl in the practice nets, helping the professional, who was ex Lancashire player, Ralph Whitehead. He helped Ray with his bowling at this time, as accurate bowling was required. Incidentally, Ralph Whitehead had a sensational début for Lancashire in 1908, when he scored 131 not out and was later no balled for throwing four times in one over.

One Saturday during the 1938 season, the second eleven were playing at home when the captain spoke to Bernard: "I am one short and want your lad to play". Ray enjoyed the game and remembers taking four wickets which pleased his parents and made him eager to become a good cricketer.

He was now serving an engineering apprenticeship with the Liverpool Corporation with a day release system to help him study to reach his target and become a member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers.

1939 brought the outbreak of the Second World War, The Liverpool club membership was greatly reduced, many joining the armed forces, sadly, many never to return. Liverpool tried to keep one cricket team playing, with the ex Lancashire captain, JR Barnes in charge. This did not last long as the pavilion was taken over by the defence forces and a barrage balloon positioned on the main ground. Bernard joined the Royal Air Force and was based at a number of air stations, including one at Stornaway in Scotland, In 1941, Sefton CC were still playing cricket along with a few other clubs. Ray was invited to join Sefton and learnt a lot playing in a very good team, captained by Mel Coomer. This was very enjoyable cricket in a time of great stress with regular German bombing raids on the city.

Ray volunteered for the RAF in 1942 and passed the necessary tests at Padgate, near Warrington, taking over two days to complete them. He was told "We will call you up for air crew very soon". What a shock when the 'call up' arrived. They instructed him to join the Royal Navy at Portsmouth. Ray found out later that it was because of his diesel engine experience. This meant the rest of the war was spent in 'Combined Operations' involved with assault landing craft and training with the Royal Marine Commandos. After the Germans were on the run, Ray was shipped out to South East Asia Command. This involved some time spent in the docks at Bombay, still involved with landing craft. Being shore based, allowed some time for sport, including football for the Royal Navy in the West of India football league. Some of the Indian teams played without boots but they were not disadvantaged as their feet were 'bone hard'.

The cricket in Bombay was quite a high standard. Ray was fortunate to play with and against first class players from England and India. these included DCS Compton, BH Lyon, CH Palmer, RT Simpson, PF judge and wicket keeper P Corrall, Vinoo Mankad and RV Divecha. Ray still talks about the twenty minutes coaching session he had with Company Sergeant Major DCS Compton. He enjoyed bowling his spinners and Ray was the lucky one to stay and bat with him in the nets.

Following the end of hostilities in 1945, Ray and father Bernard were demobbed. Bernard continued as head groundsman and Ray was allowed to become a playing member as the club rules had changed. Members were accepted following a successful interview. He played cricket for the club's first eleven up to the early seventies. It was a great honour for him to be made captain of the club in 1959. He did four seasons in all as first eleven skipper and also captained the second and Sunday elevens. He continued to play in the third and fourth elevens on condition that he wasn't keeping a younger player out of the side.

In 1958 Ray scored more than 1000 first eleven Liverpool Competition runs, being the first Liverpool batsman to reach this target. It has only been achieved by one amateur player since then and that is John Hitchmough, now playing with Bootle CC.

Ray was fortunate to take over some great players in 1959. The team that year became champions, defeating the other fifteen clubs in successive matches, a record that will be hard to beat. The weather must have been kind. Ray has always said 'Bowlers win matches' and he had five in the top fifteen in the averages. TIF Tod was the leading batsman with 779 runs, average 78. Ray was next with 707 average 50.

Ray also captained the Liverpool Competition representative side and played for them many times. He had a number of offers to 'pro' in leagues, but he  remained loyal to Liverpool and the Liverpool Competition. The great Harry Makepeace, then Lancashire coach, made Ray a verbal offer of a one year contract on the Lancashire staff. He had to say "No" as he was studying engineering and he could not get a year off from his employer, Father Bernard offered advice, saying "They can't make a county cricketer in one year, ask for three years". Harry Makepeace said "Sorry, we can't do that."

Towards the end of his playing career, Ray played for the Lancashire '50 plus' XI in the county championship, In 1985, Lancashire won the final at the Essex county ground at Chelmsford and Ray was awarded the 'Man of the Series' for topping the batting averages. The presentation was made by FR Brown, the ex captain of England, whilst Bob Blair, the former New Zealand test bowler, was the Lancashire captain.

Cricket has been good to the Tyler family, Ray's greatest honour was being made a Vice President of Lancashire CCC and the Lancashire Cricket Board. He was also made a Vice President of the Liverpool Competition in 1994 and now he is President in 2002.

The Liverpool club also honoured Ray by making him President and this was followed some years later by Ray's wife Gwen being made a Vice-President. This honour was awarded to Gwen for many years work as ambassador for the club. It was Gwen's second home and she made it her duty to welcome new members and always encouraged the young players. She also had a 'top ten' list of cricketers, good fun was created when the number one spot was in doubt. Gwen also produced the 'Gwen Tyler Shield' for the Young Cricketer of the Year. The present Liverpool first eleven captain, Chris Wylie, has his name proudly on this shield.

Gwen was a great supporter of Ray and his cricket and career. Between them they produced two sons, Chris and Philip. Chris followed the cricket tradition, captaining the Holt School team and playing for the Liverpool club's junior side. His education took him to Bangor University and on completion there had just got into the Liverpool first eleven when a teaching appointment took him to Burton on Trent. He played for the Burton club, a very old, established club dating back to 1827.

Chris became their Hon. Secretary and produced a book on the history of Burton cricket in 1977; a copy of which is in the Liverpool Club Library. Included are details of matches played between Liverpool CC and Burton CC as long ago as 1850. They played home and away and were two innings matches. Both sides had professional players. One wonders how they travelled - stage coach possibly? The players must have had at least four days off work when making such a long journey!

Ray's younger son, Philip, went into the jewellery business on leaving school. This involved working long hours, including all day Saturdays. Perhaps this is a reason he didn't take up the sport. His hobbies are collecting militaria and fast motor bikes. Philip's mother always worried when the motor bike roared off and was greatly relieved when it returned home.

Sadly in 2001, Gwen passed away in the Royal Liverpool Hospital after a long and painful illness which was eventually diagnosed as the 'big C'. Ray, the boys and her many friends were devastated. Ray is still trying hard to get over it as they were very close. More than two hundred people came to say goodbye to Gwen and she is remembered by a Red Rose in the garden in front of the pavilion. The help and friendship of the cricket connection has been great for Ray and he thanks all concerned.

Long live cricket, the game that makes many friends.

(Reproduced by kind permission of Liverpool Cricket Club)