I read David Kynaston's biography of Surrey and England player Bobby Abel in which he stated that the site of Abel’s grave in the huge Nunhead Cemetery, Southeast London was in danger of being lost due to some planned redevelopment. Although the book had been written a few years before I read it I decided to try to find the grave as it was local to where I was living at the time. I was given excellent directions by the "Friends of Nunhead Cemetery" plus the locations of more cricketers' graves in the cemetery and despite the grave being hidden in dense foliage I managed to find it. On the headstone was inscribed "The Guv'nor" - his nickname and although I missed it on my first visit, his cricket playing son, William, is interred with him.

I mentioned my find to a few Surrey CCC members who in turn led me to other players' graves, I knew where W.G.'s burial place was as it was also local and I wrote to the large cemeteries in London and the project quickly grew from there. At the time I thought that I could just managed 2 books but due to the help of other people, cemeteries and councils I found many more graves. I then discovered the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and this opened up a huge chapter of cricketers who had been killed in action who were buried both at home and abroad. I have also managed to locate graves whilst abroad with the same sort of help and have now located about 130 graves and memorials overseas.

As I type this introduction in the summer of 2004 I have written 7 books called Innings Complete and feel confident that I will be able to complete another 5 which will be published annually each autumn. Each book is A5 size and of about 56 pages and contains about 42 graves with one headstone photo per page and 5-6 lines of biographical notes under the photo. Each book is limited to 250 copies and are all signed by the author.

The books are £5 each (including postage and packing in the UK) and can be obtained from
Philip Paine
17 Norfolk Road
Tunbridge Wells
Kent TN1 1TD

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