Fred Rumsey was a left-arm fast bowler who played first class cricket for Worcestershire, Somerset and Derbyshire and 5 Tests for England but his greatest contribution to the game was setting up the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) in 1967.
Fred was born in Stepney in 1935 and began his first-class career for Worcestershire against Cambridge University, his first wicket being that of Tony Lewis.
Fred moved to Somerset in 1963 and over the next six seasons took 547 first-class wickets at 20.14 including 100 wickets in a season 3 times. His best figures of 8-26 came against Hampshire in 1965. His Test debut was in 1964 against Australia, a game memorable for Bob Simpson’s 311 and both sides scoring over 600. Under the circumstances his figures of 2-99 from 35.5 overs were commendable. He played 4 more times for England in 1965, recording best figures of 4-25 against New Zealand.
During the winter of 1967/8 Somerset appointed him public relations and fund-raising officer, the first appointment of its type in English first-class cricket.
In 1969 Fred moved to Derbyshire on perhaps the first ever one-day contract (he made one first-class appearance in five years). He again operated as public relations and fund-raising officer. He achieved his best one-day figures of 4-8 against Worcestershire and took 100 List A wickets at 18.44.
Fred’s creation of a players’ union was recognised when the PCA recently appointed him Honorary Life Founder Member and a Vice-President. In 2008 he was honoured by Somerset supporters when they selected him as a ‘Legend’ of the Cricket Club.
Fred’s recent autobiography – ‘Sense of Humour, Sense of Justice’ – is published by Stephen Chalke. Review comments include: “Warmth, wit and wisdom pour off nearly every page, interspersed with nuggets of insight into the game’s characters and history” George Dobell and “an enchanting book” Vic Marks.
The book details Fred’s friendship with the anti-apartheid campaigner Donald Woods, his brushes with the South African secret police, his years fund-raising for the Lord’s Taverners, and his relationships with, among others, John Arlott, Eric Morecambe, Colin Milburn and David Gower. It also includes trenchant views on the current role of the PCA, the lack of cricket on terrestrial television and the manner in which the ECB may have lost its way. It promises to be a fascinating evening!