Catalogue for the auction of
Cricket, Football, Golf & Sporting Memorabilia

Pelham Francis ‘Plum’ Warner. Middlesex, Oxford University & England 1894-1920. M.C.C. tour to Australia 1903/1904. File comprising a fascinating collection of ten original handwritten letters with envelopes from Warner to his betrothed, Miss Agnes Blythe, relating to their blossoming relationship, which coincided with Warner’s somewhat controversial appointment as Captain of the M.C.C. touring party to Australia. The letters, covering arrangements for meeting family members and friends, dinners, theatre tickets etc., are nicely presented with typed transcripts, copy photographs and other commentaries. The lead-up to the tour is described in a typed transcript of a letter from Warner to Miss Blythe, dated 20th July 1903, in which Warner expresses his hope that she will be sailing on the ‘Orontes’ to Australia on 25th September with the touring party. He also lists the likely team, comprising himself, Fry, Bosanquet, Hayward, Rhodes, Hirst, Lilley, Braund, Tyldesley, Strudwick, Arnold, Fielder ‘and two others’. (Agnes did indeed make the voyage.) There follows a facsimile copy of the front page article from ‘Cricket. A Weekly Record’ of 13th August 1903 by W.A. Bettesworth, titled ‘The Most Abused Man of the Day’, which describes the controversy of Warner’s appointment as Captain, with the press holding him in scorn describing him as an ‘interloper’, a ‘nonentity’ and ‘inexperienced’. Bettesworth, however, highlights Warner’s attributes including his friendship with Lord Hawke, his player management when captaining Middlesex, and his current good form. Subsequent original handwritten letters sent to Miss Blythe before departing for Australia relate to him planning to write to her uncle for permission for her hand in marriage. By 16th September their engagement was confirmed and Warner expresses his delight and wishes she ‘had been at the Oval today’, where he had scored 115 for Middlesex in the Champion County match. In the days leading up to the departure, as well as promising to be ‘a good husband’, Warner states ‘We must win the Test matches. I know we shall with you looking on’, and in a letter dated 24th September, the eve of sailing, he states ‘Tomorrow begins the greatest task I have so far undertaken in cricket... we must win the Ashes... but if I lose I know I can count on you in any disappointment’. The M.C.C. team won the five match Ashes series 3-2 thanks in part to Warner’s fine captaincy. On their return Warner and Agnes were married at Marylebone Church on 7th June 1904. Also included is an original copy of the Executor’s Accounts for ‘Sir P.F. Warner Deceased’ dated March 1965 (Warner died on 30th January 1963). A wonderful insight into a significant time in his personal life and playing career. Very good condition.