Tom Pugh
Oliver Wise writes: Tom Pugh (obituary, Feb 12) was one of the great sporting characters of his generation. Before making his cricketing debut for Gloucestershire, he showed a swift grasp of a good bet when, as a 21-year-old insurance broker, he was approached by his Old Etonian friend, Colin Ingleby-Mackenzie, in May 1958. Ingleby-Mackenzie wished to insure his recent century for Hampshire in 98 minutes against the loss of the £100 prize, in case a quicker 100 were made later in the first class cricket season. As the fastest centuries in the previous two seasons had been made in 66 minutes and 61 minutes, and the 1958 season was not far advanced, it was not a piece of business that any insurer should have accepted. Pugh, whose duty as broker was to his cricketing client, placed the insurance for a premium of £25. On June 16, JR Reid, the New Zealand captain, reached his century off 88 minutes. Two days later, Ingleby-Mackenzie attained his century in 61 minutes, which remained the season’s fastest; thus netting him a profit of £175 for the season.
Pugh deserved his place as a batsman in the county team before taking on the captaincy; fourth in its batting averages in 1959; then fifth in 1960, in which year he and Tom Graveney put on the record of 256 for the Gloucestershire second wicket, which has never been broken. His friendliness, charm and respect for Graveney as a cricketer almost persuaded Graveney to stay at Gloucestershire in 1961, after the club chairman had badly handled Pugh’s replacement of Graveney as captain.
Tony Warren
Lydia Segrave writes: Your obituary of Tony Warren (Mar 3) makes no mention of his book I Was Ena Sharples Father. This memoir, based on his diaries and Coronation Street viewers’ letters was published by Duckworth in 1969. I was working there and to celebrate publication Tony invited on a gay pub crawl on condition that I become “Lionel” for the evening. As I now rather hazily recall, it was quite an adventure for me in those more restrained times and I suspect we made an unusual couple.
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Abbot Patrick Barry
Dr Alastair Mitchell writes: The obituary for Abbot Patrick Barry (Mar 1) brought back many memories of him, from when I was a pupil at Ampleforth College until 1975. His sense of humour was not mentioned but it was dry to the point of arid. Addressing the school before a rare exeat, when we were permitted to roam the towns and villages of North Yorkshire, he told us: “The police have recommended that when walking along the local roads, you must walk on the right hand side. I’m not altogether sure why, but at least you will face your oncoming death.”