Catalogue for the auction of
Cricket, Football & Sporting Memorabilia

Charles John Barnett. Gloucestershire & England 1927-1948. ‘Death of Hedley Verity, Yorkshire & England in Italy, 31st July 1943’. Four page handwritten letter of condolence from Barnett to Mr Verity on ‘Cowcombe House, Chalford, Gloucestershire’ headed paper by Barnett on the 10th September 1943. ‘Thank you very much indeed for your very nice letter. I cannot say how grieved I am to hear the very bad news of Hedley’s death. I feel words are no help to you and the family in such a time, but I do want you to know that if I and my family grieve, at this great sacrifice, we do all but how hard a blow it must have been to you. Something concrete seems to have fallen out of my life, cricket for one thing will never by the same again for me, of thing I always felt sure was that Hedley took a great interest in my own efforts. From the day I came to know him well, you will remember as we sailed away from Tilbury for India [M.C.C. tour 1933/34] I had just parted from my mother and you saw Hedley off, it was my first trip away from home and I felt a little bit under the weather when Hedley turned to me and seeing how I felt said ‘I think a walk around the boat is indicated’ from that day he has always been my very dear friend.... It seems as though he was universally liked for everyone seems to feel that the loss is of a grand fellow more than ‘the England cricketer’..... My very sincere sympathy to you and all in this great loss. Please god such a sacrifice has not been in vain’. Signed ‘Yours very sincerely Charles Barnett’. Folds, nicks and a little soiling to letter otherwise in good condition. A very poignant and moving letter from a great friend of Verity’s. From the archive of Alan Hill, Hedley Verity’s biographer