Blue plaque unveiled in Glossop for cricketing trailblazer

Tuesday, 11 October 2022 16:13

By Emma Downes @emma_downes2021

A cricketing trailblazer has been commemorated with a blue plaque unveiled by Glossop Heritage Trust at Glossop Cricket and Bowling Club.

Charles Augustus Ollivierre, played cricket for Glossop from 1900 to 1903 and went on to play for Derbyshire County Cricket Club.

Ollivierre was the first black West Indian to play County Cricket in England and helped to break down major barriers of racial prejudice in his lifetime.

During his time in Glossop, he lived on Talbot Street and was employed by Sir Sam Hill-Wood.

The plaque was unveiled by High Peak Mayor Councillor Ollie Cross and Charles’ great great grandson Randolph Benn who, together with his partner Audrey, travelled to Glossop especially for the event.

It was the sixth plaque unveiled in the town by Glossop Heritage Trust, who are supported by High Peak Borough Council.

The well attended event featured an exhibition on the history of Glossop Cricket Club, Charles Augustus Ollivierre and Sir Sam Hill-Wood and some of Ollivierre’s Glossop teammates.

There were also speeches from Tony Wright, Chair of Glossop Heritage Trust, Lee Shufflebotham Chairman of Glossop Cricket and Bowling Club and Tim Knebel of “Peak in the Past”, who spoke about the cricketers life.

Glossop Heritage Trust said: “We would like to thank everyone who came to our Blue Plaque unveiling event. It was a lovely afternoon. It was an honour to commemorate Charles Augustus Ollivierre and share his story in the very grounds where he played.

“Many thanks are needed for all those who have worked hard for many months to make this event possible including all our guests and speakers.

“Lee Shufflebotham and Glossop Cricket & Bowling Club for hosting the event and Councillor Jean Wharmby for her support and help funding the Blue Plaque.”

Previous image Next image

1 of 67

Previous image Next image

More Galleries

Hayfield May Queen Festival

Election 2024

The Leap Centre

Glossop Cricket Club blue plaque unveiling (1)

CHARLES AUGUSTUS OLLIVIERRE (1876-1949)

Charles Augustus Ollivierre was born on the South Caribbean Island of St Vincent in 1876. He was an entirely self-taught cricketer, honing his technique through studying cricket books.

He went on to play for first-class cricket for Trindad and Tobago in 1900 was selected for the West Indian team for a tour of England. The tour received much attention and Ollivierre’s abilities as a powerful batsman were noticed.

At the end of the tour, he received offers to play first-class county cricket, accepting an offer to play cricket for Derbyshire that was likely made by Sir Samuel Hill-Wood, Derbyshire Captain and one of the owners of Howardtown Mills in Glossop.

Ollivierre worked at Woods Mills (Howardtown Mills) during the two years residency he needed before he could qualify to play county cricket for Derbyshire. In the 1901 census he was boarding with Mr and Mrs Cunnington and their family at 15 Talbot Street. He was at this time employed as a writing clerk. Later he was reported to have worked at Wren Nest Mill (Sumners Mill).

During this time, he played for the Glossop team and helped them win the Central Lancashire League Championship twice.

The Glossop Cricket Team in 1903 after winning the Central Lancashire League

Some of Ollivierre’s team mates included Alf Charlesworth - the landlord of the Norfolk Arms, Irvine Dearnaley – the painter and decorator and a founder member of the Empire Cinema on High Street West and cricketers - Sam Cadman and Alf Berwick. When Ollivierre started playing for Derbyshire in 1903 he became the first black West Indian player to play county cricket in England.

A couple of stories have passed down into legend about Ollivierre’s time in Glossop. He once made a ‘legendary six hit’ from Glossop Cricket Ground to the football flagstaff near the Arundel Street Railway Bridge. In 1904 the famous US showman, Buffalo Bill, visited Glossop. He was supposedly involved in a confrontation with Ollivierre in the Norfolk Arms of which Ollivierre’s team mate Alfred Charlesworth was landlord, and was ejected after he refused to share the bar room with a black man.

A. Charlesworth, C. A. Ollivierre and J. A. Berwick in front of Glossop Cricket Pavilion c.1900

Ollivierre continued to play for Glossop occasionally but later moved to Matlock. His county cricket career ended in 1907 when he retired due to poor eyesight that had been caused in a tennis accident a few years before.

He eventually moved to Pontefract where he lived for the rest of his life. He continued to play and coach cricket.

He passed away in 1949 and is buried at St Stephen’s Church, Fylingdales on the Yorkshire Coast, where he often stayed and was a place he had a great attachment to. His gravestone was erected by an unknown person and is inscribed “in loving memory a dear friend”.

Ollivierre with an unknown companion at Robin Hood’s Bay, Yorkshire

Tim Knebel of “Peak in the Past” has done extensive research on Charles Augustus Ollivierre and his time in Derbyshire.

“Charles Augustus Ollivierre (1876-1949) is a trailblazing sporting figure of national significance: the first black West Indian to play county cricket in England who helped break down major barriers of racial prejudice in his lifetime. He played matches all over the country in front of thousands of spectators against some of the biggest names in international cricket at the time, capturing the attention of fans of the sport and newspaper reporters wherever he went.”

Ollivierre was a described as an elegant and graceful batsman as well as a powerful hitter. After his successful county cricket career, other West Indians looked to follow his example, and several were approached by English counties with a view to qualifying.

Blue plaque unveiled in Glossop for cricketing trailblazer

📰 Sign up to our newsletter 📰

Read more from the Glossop Chronicle

More from Glossop Chronicle

Weather

Blue plaque unveiled in Glossop for cricketing trailblazer

Share

📰 Sign up to our newsletter 📰

Read more from the Glossop Chronicle

Share

More from Glossop Chronicle

Weather