Eddie Lawrence, who is the author of the forthcoming publication `Somerset C.C.C. Statistics and Photographs' has been totally amazed to the response that he has received from the initial mailshot that has just been received by all Club Members.

Speaking at the Somerset Cricket Museum earlier he told me: "There has been an incredible amount of interest in the book which we expect to be published before the start of the 2003 season. People only received their letters on Saturday morning and already almost one hundred and twenty have responded with their cheques, which means that they must have dashed out immediately and sent them by return of post."

The hardback book which is expected to be published in April 2003 is strictly limited to five hundred copies and will contain the statistics of every single one of the nearly 550 players who have represented Somerset since they gained first class status in 1891. The book will also contain a photograph of nearly every one of these players.

When the book is published it will retail at £30, but for those who reserve their copy and pay before December 31st 2002 it will cost just £25 and in addition they will have their names listed as subscribers inside the book. Cheques should be made payable to Somerset Cricket Museum and sent to the address below.

Despite his many long hours of searching Mr Lawrence is still short of several photographs and is appealing to all website readers in the hope that somebody may be able to help.

From the period between 1918 and 1939 he is still short of photographs of the following players:

Edward Joe Adams, born in 1915 who played in one match in 1935.
Richard Ashley, born 1915, died 1974 who played in two matches in 1932.
Frederick Henry Baitup, born 1896 died 1991 who played in one match in 1924.
Alec George Gordon Cunningham, born 1905 died 1930 who played twice in 1930.
Harold Percival Fear, born 1908 died 1943 who played twice in 1934.
Wilfred Noel Kempe, born 1887 died 1958 who played once in 1919.
John Mitton, born 1895 died 1983 who played twice in 1920.
Edward George Northway, born 1901 died 1966 who played in eight matches 1925-6.
Geoffrey Littlejohn Ogilvy, born 1906 died 1962 who played twice in 1936.
Horace Thomas Perry, born 1905 died 1962 who played once in 1927.
Harry George Pruett, born 1890 died 1948 who played twice 1921-26.
Arthur James Ricketts, born 1913 who played once in 1936.
Donald Edward Scott, born 1898 died 1981 who played once in 1936.
Donald Albert Wilkins, born 1903 died 1972 who played twice in 1927.

From the period since 1945 Mr Lawrence is still looking for photographs of the following players:

Simon Alexander Ross Ferguson, born 1961 who played in one match in 1985.
Richard Charles Peters, born 1911 who played one match in 1946.

If anyone is able to help Eddie Lawrence then he would be delighted to hear from them and can be contacted at the Cricket Museum, Priory Barn, The County Ground, St James Street, Taunton, Somerset TA1 1JT.

© SOMERSET