Talk:John Arlott

Freaker/streaker
Should "freaker" not be "streaker"? Britmax 07:18, 23 February 2007 (UTC)

The point is that dear John got the word wrong! He said freaker because he had forgotten the correct word streaker. It made it all the funnier as I recall! PaddyBriggs 09:03, 23 February 2007 (UTC)

Thought it might be something like that so I didn't just edit it. Thamks! Britmax 21:27, 24 February 2007 (UTC)

Expanded some aspects
The article didn't mention that he became a cricket commentator because he was already working for the BBC as a talk producer; I also expanded the references to his wine writing and poetry/fiction.KD Tries Again 18:48, 9 April 2007 (UTC)KD

WP Cricket importance rating
Taking his broadcasting and his writing together, I think he merits a "high" rather than a "mid", and I've altered it accordingly. JH (talk page) 18:14, 26 April 2007 (UTC)

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alternative article to draw content from
Leslie Thomas John Arlott (25 February 1914 – 14 December 1991) was an English BBC journalist, author and cricket commentator for Test Match Special. He was also a poet, wine connoisseur and former police officer for Hampshire. Known for his poetic phraseology, Arlott was a popular figure of cricket commentary, noted for his "wonderful gift for evoking cricketing moments" by the BBC.

Early life
Arlott was born in 1914, in Chapel Hill, Basingstoke in Hampshire and spent his early years living in the lodging of a local cemetery superintendent. He attended a local school in 1920, aged six, and expressed and early interest in the local cricket matches. In 1926 he watched England and Australia play at The Oval, becoming a fan of Jack Hobbs, and later watched Sussex face Lancashire.

First Tests
In 1938 Arlott made a brief appearance as 12th man for Hampshire during a match against Worcestershire, however this was his only first-class appearance. In 1980 he was asked whether plaing first-class cricket would have assisted his role as a cricket writer, to which he replied "My word, I know what the problems are. I've failed at everything." In 1939, upon the outbreak of the Second World War, Arlott was a member of the Hampshire Constabulary. He progressed to the rank of sergeant, while stationed at Southampton. On VE Day, 1945, he made a public address to George V which attracted the attention of the BBC, and of John Betjeman, who became a mentor for Arlott's poetic ambitions. Arlott immediately joined the BBC as the Overseas Literary Producer, and was asked to commentate on the warm-up games of India's tour of England in 1946. Arlott's commentary "went down very well in India" and he was thus awarded the entire tour to commentate, including the Test matches. He experienced resentment from his colleagues at Lord's at first – conflicting with EW Swanton – however rapidly found his niche. He would go on to commentate on every home Test match until the end of 1980.

Working abroad
In 1948, he travelled to South Africa and openly voiced his distaste for the country's apartheid policy. When completing an immigration form, which required him to declare his race, he wrote "human". Upon returning to England, we became an ardent supporter of Basil D'Oliveira in the latter's efforts to come and play in England. D'Oliveira would later come from Cape Town to play for Worcestershire. Arlott also visited Australia across the winter of 1954-55, where Len Hutton retained The Ashes, however Arlott otherwise commentated exclusively in England.

Journalism and history
In 1968, Arlott joined The Guardian as chief cricket correspondent, where he would work until 1980. Well-versed in cricket history, Arlott was often viewed as a leading authority, and published several annual reviews in Wisden for every year from 1950 until 1978 – beginning with a well received review of Neville Cardus – as well as articles on art and history in Barclays World of Cricket. He published several works during his life: Of Period and Place, a book of poetry in 1944; Indian Summer (1946); Concerning Cricket (1949); Maurice Tate (1951); Test Match Diary (1953); Vintage Summer (1967); Fred - Portrait of a Fast Bowler (1971); A Hundred Years of County Cricket (1973); John Arlott's book of cricketers (1979); Jack Hobbs: Profile of the Master (1981) and Basingstoke Boy : The Autobiography (1989). A Word From Arlott and Arlott In Conversation were also published in 1983 and 1984 respectively as collections of his commentaries and writings.

Arlott was also a Liberal, and unsuccessfully stood as Liberal candidate for Epping in 1955 and 1959. He was also an advocate of county cricket and its players. In 1968 he became President of the Cricketer's Association, and aimed to raise salaries and crowd attendance. Wisden noted that "democratic views and wise counsel earned him much respect in the cricket world and among the players. His moderation and tact helped in some tight corners, notably at the time of the Packer Affair, when he strove to keep the Cricketers' Association neutral." He was awarded an OBE in 1970, and a lifetime membership of the MCC in 1980.

Final Test
Arlott commentated on his final Test at Lord's in 1980, between England and Australia during the Centenary Test. Following an annoucement to the crowd, a standing ovation occured involving both the spectators and the players of both teams, which continued when he presented the Man of the Match award to Kim Hughes.

Commentating style
Arlott was a popular commentator due to his poetic phraseology. The BBC commented that "the style of commentary owed much to the poet in John. He would relish the phrases he used to describe what he saw and leave his colleagues wishing they could have thought of them," while Wisden wrote "it is his unique gift for cricket commentary which will bring him lasting fame... His commentary technique was strongly influenced by his poetic sense. With the economy of a poet he could describe a piece of play without fuss or over-elaboration, being always conscious of its rhythm and mindful of its background. He was never repetitive or monotonous, except for effect. The listener's imagination was given free rein." One comment often noted was made in 1975, to describe a shot by Clive Lloyd as "the stroke of a man knocking a thistle top off with a walking stick."

Personal life
Arlott was married three times. First to Dawn Rees (married 1940 - divorced 1958) - there were two sons, Jim (1944 - 1965) and Tim (born 1950). Secondly to Valerie France (married 1959 - died 1976) - one son Robert, (born 1963) and finally to Patricia Hoare (1977 - 1991) who survived him.

Arlott's son Jim was killed in a car accident on New Year's Eve 1965, driving home late at night from Southampton in a sports car which Arlott had helped him acquire. Arlott always wore a black tie in remembrance of his son.

On retirement, Arlott moved to The Vines on Alderney in the Channel islands, where his health deteriorated due to chronic bronchitis. He died his sleep in the early morning on Saturday, December 14, 1991. He was buried on Alderney and engraved on his headstone in the cemetery were two lines from one of his own poems "So clear you see those timeless things, That, like a bird, the vision sings."

The Princess Royal, Anne, as President of the Rural Housing Trust, gave a Reception at Buckingham Palace on February 10 1993 to launch the John Arlott Memorial Trust in conjunction with the National Playing Fields Association. The idea of remembering Arlott by creating a fund to provide affordable village housing and recreational areas in some of England's 8,000 villages came from Moira Constable, chief executive of the Rural Housing Trust. It is now a national charity chaired by newscaster Sir Trevor McDonald. It contributes towards projects to improve the quality of village life, in particular it aims to create affordable housing and recreational facilities. The annual charity dinner is sponsored by the Rioja Wine Exporters Group.

An family authorised Biography of Arlott, by David Rayvern Allen, published in 1993 and won the The Cricket Society Jubilee Literary Award. A second biography, John Arlott, A Memoir, written by his son Tim Arlott, was published in 1994.

copyedit - 280809
There is a strong possibility that this article has moved from a fan-site to something from the obituaries section RASAM (talk) 15:57, 28 August 2009 (UTC)
 * Sorry, but I'm not clear whether you are saying that the article reads as too "fannish" or that it's too much like a dry obituary. JH (talk page) 17:22, 28 August 2009 (UTC)
 * I'm saying that the article was criticized originally for reading like a fan-site, (it was tagged to that effect); now it has a style which is more like an obituary from the Times or Daily Telegraph. RASAM (talk) 14:29, 29 August 2009 (UTC)
 * Thanks for clarifying. I'm planning at some point on adding back some of the most famous remarks that he made in the course of commentary, so long as I can find reliable citations, which should help a bit to add some colour. There are also some other things that need to be added back in, such as his fpunding of the Master's Club. But the style of a Times obituary, as might have been written by someone like John Woodcock or CMJ, doesn't seem too bad a thing to aim for. JH (talk page) 16:57, 29 August 2009 (UTC)

Progress on revisions
I think that the article is now in a lot better shape, though there is still plenty more to do. I've attempted to give it some structure, separating out his broadcasting from his writing, as I don't think that attempting to keep things strictly in chronological order would work very well. I want to expand on the start of his broadcasting career, his poetry, his awards, the books that he wrote and his love of and writing on wine. I also want to add some more of his famous remarks when commentating, properly cited. I also intend to restore the sections on his role in the D'Oliveira affair and in setting up the Master's Club. JH (talk page) 17:41, 30 August 2009 (UTC)

Any Questions?
Article should perhaps mention his appearances on the radio programme "Any Questions?". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Any_Questions His appearances are mentioned here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8995939/John-Arlott-Crickets-Radical-Voice-Radio-4-preview.html — Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.182.162.22 (talk) 20:59, 7 January 2012 (UTC)

Birth Place versus birthplace
I suggest Wiki entries use birthplace, not Birth Place. It is a real compound English word, and avoids that distracting American habit of putting a initial capital letter on non-proper nouns. birthplace is one word, not split, even when posted in the r/h summary box panel beneath a Wiki mugshot. One for your template style guide? 91.125.90.231 (talk) 22:18, 29 July 2013 (UTC)

My Word!
My memory didn't fail me – John Arlott was chairman of this radio programme 1956-57 -- Unbuttered parsnip  (talk) mytime= Tue 17:53, wikitime=  09:53, 24 February 2015 (UTC)

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