26 JANUARY 1929, Page 23

Mr. Philip Norman is the leading expert in London topo-

graphy and archaeology, and known to some as the Chronicler of the West Kent Cricket Club. Now, as one of the first Ramblers, he has written an account of the origin and early exploits of The Eton Ramblers Cricket Club (10s.) It is published by Messrs. Longman very properly as Mr. George Longman was a famous Rambler (though the lamented Sir John Murray might have made a claim, for he too played for them). No less properly Lord Harris has written a short preface. Mr. Norman was one who arranged matches and played successfully in many of them between the limits of his history, 1862-1880. Other Normans appear ; many Lubbocks, of whom Alfred was chief and the late Lord Avebury one of the least frequent players. Lytteltons, of course, abound in the later years, in which the Studds also begin to appear. The research among old records and newspapers has been astonishingly successful. We doubt whether any man living, except perhaps Mr. Robert Lyttelton, could have combined cricketing memory and research 'as Mr. Norman has. The illustrations, taken from photographs, caricatures of " Mike " and others, or elsewhere, are admirably chosen. In a sketch by Arthur James of four persons at Lord's, three are named, viz. : J. C. Heathcote, Len Cobham and E. C. A.-Leigh. We suggest to Mr. Norman that the fourth whom he cannot identify was then known as " A. J. B."

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