Golf Today Publisher, Stuart Barber, remembers the late Lord Cowdrey
"When I played Golf with Colin Cowdrey at North Foreland, he had just become
a regular member of the Kent County Cricket Team, but I never imagined that
he and I would go into partnership.
In 1974, we formed a sports consultancy which continued until 1982 when it
was acquired by Martini & Rossi. During that time Colin's advice and counsel
were invaluable and he became a true friend.
We played golf together quite often and whilst he was not a golfer in the same
class as he was a cricketer, he nevertheless had that true games player's innate
ability to strike the ball rather better than the average player. He was a man
full of fun and had many stories which entertained and enlivened any conversation.
Two incidents stand out in my mind, which show the esteem in which he was held
throughout the cricketing world.
Colin Cowdrey & Tom Graveney
The first was when he and I flew to Los Angeles and on catching the airport
bus, found the driver to be an Indian who greeted Colin as though he were a
long lost friend and said that his greatest memory was to watch Colin bat for
a day and a half and score over a hundred and fifty runs in a test match against
India. Colin was vastly amused to be greeted in America by someone who understood
cricket and happily signed the note which the driver had quickly written.
The other occasion was at Canterbury Cricket Ground when I was walking between
Colin and Tom Graveney (former England Cricketer), when we were approached by
an elderly man who produced an autograph book opened at a page which only bore
one signature on an otherwise blank page - Frank Woolley (famous pre-War Kent
and England cricketer) The man then said, "I'm so fortunate to find the only
two men whose signature I would place alongside that of Frank Woolley." Both
Colin and Tom were delighted to oblige.
307 was Colin Cowdrey's highest score in first class cricket, scored against South Australia in 1962/3.
Colin was a man of unfailing charm and generousity and during the whole of
the time I knew him I don't think I ever saw him really angry. I valued his
advice and friendship and it has been my great privilege to have known him as
I did - He is much missed by everyone.
