Life Before Wicket
This Is Your Life: Life Before Wicket
C B Fry This Is Your Life C B Fry This Is Your Life C B FRY

18 December 1955

Charles Burgess Fry was surprised by Eamonn in the audience at the BBC Television Theatre.
An all round sportsman, as well as a journalist and scholar, CB is perhaps best remembered as a cricketer - as captain of Sussex and England, who in 1901 scored an unprecendented six consecutive centuries in six consecutive innings.

     
     
Rev David Sheppard This Is Your Life Rev David Sheppard This Is Your Life David SHEPPARD

3 October 1960

David was ordained in 1955 following a successful cricketing career and continued to play Test cricket sporadically until 1963, being the first ordained minister to do so.
Eamonn surprised him at the Islington Boys' Club, where his tribute included a message from Richard Attenborough.

     
     
  Joe Filliston This Is Your Life Joe FILLISTON

30 April 1962

Joseph William Filliston was 100 years old when Eamonn surprised him at a cricket club dinner and dance at Motspur Park, in South West London - not unsurprisingly, he is the oldest ever This Is Your Life subject!
Joe played for England and many different counties, including Staffordshire, in his long career.

     
     
  Learie Constantine This Is Your Life Learie CONSTANTINE

16 April 1963

The West Indian all rounder - who had played 18 Test matches before 1939 and had taken the West Indies' first ever wicket in Test cricket - was surprised by Eamonn in the audience at the BBC Television Theatre.
Learie had qualified as a barrister in 1954 and entered politics the same year. In 1961 he became Trinidad's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.

     
     
Colin Milburn This Is Your Life Colin Milburn This Is Your Life Colin MILBURN

8 April 1970

Eamonn surprised the Northamptonshire and England player during a meeting at his adviser's office in central London.
Colin - who recently retired from playing cricket after losing part of his sight in a car accident - was greeted by his fellow cricketers Fred Trueman, Ray Lindwall and Denis Compton.

     
     
Basil D'Oliveira This Is Your Life Basil D'Oliveira This Is Your Life Basil D'OLIVEIRA

17 March 1971

The South African-born cricketer - who emigrated to England after being barred from playing first-class cricket in his home country - was surprised by Eamonn during a reception at Lord's Cricket Ground.
Basil - who eventually played for England, was greeted by, among others, fellow cricketer Ray Illingworth and journalist and commentator John Arlott.

     
     
Ray Illingworth This Is Your Life Ray Illingworth This Is Your Life Ray ILLINGWORTH

12 April 1972

Eamonn surprised the Yorkshire, Leicestershire and England player while coaching students at the Middlesex Indoor Cricket School.
Ray first captained England in 1969 and led the team through a highly successful period in English cricket. Among those greeting Ray is the legendary Test cricketer Len Hutton.

     
     
Garfield Sobers This Is Your Life Garfield Sobers This Is Your Life Garfield SOBERS

7 May 1975

The Barbados-born cricketer, who played for the West Indies between 1954 and 1974, was surprised by Eamonn at the Barbados High Commission in London during a reception being held in honour of his recent knighthood.
Gary is widely considered one of cricket's greatest all-rounders.

     
     
Tony Greig This Is Your Life Tony Greig This Is Your Life Tony GREIG

30 March 1977

The England and Sussex captain was surprised by Eamonn at London's Victoria Station.
Born in South Africa to a Scottish father, Tony qualified to play for the English national team, which he captained from 1975 to 1977. His show includes tributes from cricketers Dennis Lillee and Sir Garfield Sobers.

     
     
Fred Trueman This Is Your Life Fred Trueman This Is Your Life Fred TRUEMAN

5 December 1979

Fred - widely acknowledged as one of the greatest fast bowlers in history - was caught out by Eamonn in the Anchor Hotel in Southwark, London.
The cricketer - who played for Yorkshire from 1949 to 1968, and represented England in 67 Test matches - was described by one guest, former Prime Minister Harold Wilson, as the "greatest living Yorkshireman".

     
     
Clive Lloyd This Is Your Life Clive Lloyd This Is Your Life Clive LLOYD

21 May 1980

Eamonn surprised Clive - along with his West Indies team mates - outside the Commonwealth Institute in London's Kensington.
The powerful middle-order batsman - who from 1974 had successfully captained the team to become the world's dominant Test-playing nation - was greeted by - via telephone - the Prime Minister of Guyana.

     
     
Ian Botham This Is Your Life Ian Botham This Is Your Life Ian BOTHAM

4 November 1981

Eamonn interrupted a meeting at Lord's Cricket Ground in order to surprise the Somerset and England player - who is generally regarded as one of England's greatest Test players.
Ian was team captain for 12 Tests in 1980 and 1981, and among the cricketers paying tribute are Mike Brearley, Geoffrey Boycott and Sir Garfield Sobers.

     
     
Brian Johnston This Is Your Life Brian Johnston This Is Your Life Brian JOHNSTON

24 November 1982

The broadcaster - best known for his cricket commentaries, and known affectionately as 'Johnners' - was surprised by Eamonn in the middle of London's Sloane Square along with a host of his Lord's Taverners friends - including comedian Tommy Trinder and actor Michael Denison. Cricketers Fred Trueman, Godfrey Evans and Sir Len Hutton are all on the guest list.

     
     
Viv Richards This Is Your Life Viv Richards This Is Your Life Vivian RICHARDS

21 November 1984

The West Indian cricketer was surprised by Eamonn in a North London pub.
Viv played for Somerset from 1974, and made his Test debut for the West Indies in the same year. Guests include many names from show business as well as fellow cricketers Ian Botham and Clive Lloyd, and boxer Joe Frazier.

     
     
Denis Compton This Is Your Life Denis Compton This Is Your Life Denis COMPTON

18 February 1987

The record breaking all round cricketer - who remained at the top of his game for over 20 years - was surprised by Eamonn at Teddington Studios.
Denis - who spent the whole of his cricket career with Middlesex and was also a successful footballer with Arsenal FC - was greeted by cricketers Godfrey Evans and Sir Gubby Allen.

     
     
Graham Gooch This Is Your Life Graham Gooch This Is Your Life Graham GOOCH

24 October 1990

Michael surprised the England team captain at Heathrow's Excelsior Hotel on the eve of the team's departure to Australia for The Ashes.
Paying tribute to Graham - who also captains his county team of Esssex - are commentator Brian Johnston and fellow cricketers Ian Botham and Geoffrey Boycott.

     
     
Dickie Bird This Is Your Life Dickie Bird This Is Your Life Dickie BIRD

7 October 1992

The well respected cricket umpire was surprised by Michael during an interview at Yorkshire Television in Leeds. Renowned for his attention to detail and his white hats, Dickie - clearly emotional throughout the tribute - was praised by many names from the sport, and also received a personal message from former Prime Minister, John Major.

     
     
Allan Border This Is Your Life Allan Border This Is Your Life Allan BORDER

8 June 1994

Michael and the team flew to Australia to surprise Allan in his home city of Sydney.
Allan - the captain of the Australian team known affectionately as 'A.B.' - holds the record for the number of consecutive Test appearances of 153 and the number of Tests as captain.

     
     
Darren Gough This Is Your Life Darren Gough This Is Your Life Darren GOUGH

9 May 2001

The Yorkshire and England 'fast and fiery' bowler - who spearheaded England's bowling attack through much of the 1990s - was surprised by Michael while launching a NatWest competition for junior cricketers at Lord's Cricket Ground. Darren's show includes tributes from fellow Yorkshiremen Michael Parkinson, Geoffrey Boycott and Dickie Bird.

     
     
Alec Stewart This Is Your Life Alec Stewart This Is Your Life Alec STEWART

19 June 2003

Michael surprised the Surrey batsman and wicketkeeper during a game of golf at the Royal Automobile Club in Epsom.
Alec - who is the most capped English cricketer of all time - was greeted by guests that included lyricist Sir Tim Rice, former footballer Sir Bobby Robson and fellow cricketer Geoffrey Boycott.

     

* the pre-1970 subjects were surprised by a different coloured book - see the Big Red Book feature for full details