Cricketer, Horse Breeder and Jester!
A tribute by John Hulme, Chairman of Shropshire County Cricket Club and a Life Member of Shrewsbury Cricket Club
It is a measure of the widely held respect and affection with which our late president was held that tributes continue to pour in from both the cricket and racing fraternity following Bill Bromley’s passing.
Until the end, Bill remained one of life’s great characters whose irrepressible personality enriched the lives of many, particularly those connected with Shropshire cricket.
‘Brom’, a Shrewsbury Cricket Club member for almost 60 years, served as a player for over 20 years, rising through the ranks to become captain and club president. His service with the county also spanned over half a century, latterly as president.
The contribution Bill made to Shropshire cricket cannot be understated. He played his part in Shropshire’s ascendancy during the 1970s and 80s, as the county won the 1973 Minor Counties Championship, Shrewsbury triumphed at Lord’s in 1983 and Shropshire beat Yorkshire in the NatWest Trophy a year later.
The golden age of Shropshire cricket, underpinned by the enduring strength of the Furrows League and the county side’s level of performance against first-class opposition in 60-over cricket. Brom helped stitch that cricketing fabric.
The Early Years
Born in September 1943, Bill grew up on the family farm at Ellerdine and was educated at Yarlet Hall School, near Stafford, where he showed promise as a young bowler under the watchful eye of Derbyshire’s David Carr, before moving on to Wrekin College.
Temporarily, he fell out of love with cricket after reportedly not being picked in one of the school teams. But, from an early age, Bill always had that competitive streak.
On leaving school, family circumstances dictated that he went to help his grandmother’s farm at Mytton. His love for cricket, however, was to be quickly re-kindled upon joining Shrewsbury in 1967.
Shrewsbury had won the old county league in successive seasons in the 1950s but a fallow period followed as good players left the area, others retired early – and new recruits were needed at London Road.
Labour of Love
Wroxeter remained the county’s dominant force, boasting a number of fine, highly experienced cricketers, but they were quietly growing old together.
Shrewsbury aspired to that level – and Brom was to become part of a new generation intent on rebuilding.
Players began to arrive as Bill and others worked tirelessly behind the scenes to develop the ground and its surrounds.
Bill was never one to allow every-day life to interfere with his love of cricket.
Harvesting would be readily accommodated to dovetail with ground duties and the cricketing calendar.
He was regularly seen haring along the back lanes between Mytton and London Road in his famed Ford Capri – he always had a ”flash” car in his younger days – to mow, roll and water the square before dashing back to do the combining, usually under headlights.
Always on call to address any emergencies arising on the farm, Bill was never one to panic. Like the occasion when he was on the field of play and his wife Di phoned to say that the field of stubble barley he had begun burning that morning was now engulfed in flames!
Assured that the fire brigade were on their way, Bill was satisfied all was well under control – and simply carried on bowling.
County Selector
Brom joined the county committee, a position he enjoyed with enthusiasm and pride. Within a year he was fast-tracked to the selection committee.
Success was immediate as the county won their one and only Minor Counties Championship.
Despite failing to win their first two games, Shropshire won seven of the next eight, securing the title at Ludlow against Devon with a side containing seven players who appeared in first-class cricket. As Wisden reported, that 1973 Championship was a ‘team effort’.
Brom and his colleagues had got the calls right!
He travelled far and wide with the county – and was always available as 12th man when called upon. Receiving his county sweater for services rendered was a special moment – a prized possession.
Quadruple
Back at base, Shrewsbury were conscientiously preparing for a Shropshire League title challenge to break the hegemony enjoyed for so long by Wroxeter.
Richard Tudor was appointed captain and Bill the second XI captain for 1975 – and Shrewsbury enjoyed a clean sweep, completing the quadruple of Shropshire League and the county, Wrekin and Broseley Knockout titles.
The seeds had been sown. Over the next 15 years, the club dominated Shropshire to become a leading force in Midlands cricket and claim the ultimate prize, the National Club Championship.
Bill began to make more regular appearances for the first team, earning selection for both County Association and League representative sides.
He had worked hard on his game to develop as a very reliable seam bowler with the ability to bowl an effective leg cutter that could surprise the best.
Captaincy resignation and return
When Tudor stepped down as captain in 1978, Bill took over. After just a year in charge he tendered his resignation, feeling that he was not doing enough in terms of his own performance. That was Bill.
His resignation, however, was not accepted.
He finally left after the 1980 season, when the club had secured another title, taking the road previously trod by others, the short distance down the A5 to Wellington, where he enjoyed two seasons at Orleton Park.
A call from Steve Gale, who had taken over the reins at London Road, persuaded Bill to return ‘home’ for the 1983 season.
Galey saw him as a more than useful addition to an extremely strong seam attack. He knew that, if the club were to improve upon reaching the 1982 regional final, they would need strength in reserve to answer the inevitable county calls.
Road to Lord’s
So it proved when Shrewsbury met Birmingham League champions Walsall in the third round, severely weakened by the county calling on five players to face Cheshire. The Shropshire champions summoned their reserves, including Bill. They did not disappoint. Against a side containing almost half the Staffordshire team and ex-Somerset legend, Roy Virgin, not long out of the first-class game with over 25,000 runs to his name, Shrewsbury pulled off the most unlikely win by 39 runs in a low-scoring affair.
Bill had played his part, bowling with economy, and taking a crucial catch on the long-leg boundary. Celebrations continued long into the night, led by W.A.B, a pint of Springfield in one hand, a packet of Senior Service in the other.
Other Birmingham League sides followed as Shrewsbury marched on, disposing of Liverpool in the quarters and Wigan in semis.
Carrot Crunchers
Some were sparing in their praise, not least the Wolverhampton-based Express & Star, dubbing Shrewsbury the ‘carrot crunchers’, attributing the club’s success in the National on the false premise that availability for rearranged midweek games was better than most, being a team of farmers!
In fact, there were more footballers than farmers, the only man of the land being Brom.
The club ignored these barbs, concentrating on their dream of a Lord’s day-out.
Press day arrived in the company of a Midlands Today TV crew. And Brom made the official team photo. Back row, centre right of the Welder – a likely pair, if ever there was one!
Players, wives and committee travelled to London by coach late on Friday afternoon as news filtered through on local radio that there had been an armed robbery at a building society in town.
The branch manager, Shrewsbury’s Sunday IIs captain was sat just two rows up at the front of the bus.
“Brom, we don’t think he knows,” they said. ”Should we tell him?”
“Good Lord, no!” he replied.’ ‘We don’t want to spoil his weekend.”
Shropshire Cowboy
The great day arrived as the luxury 40-seater pulled up outside the Grace Gates. The team had finally got there, but not by tractor and trailer as myth might have it!
Always a snappy dresser, Bill was in his best bib and tucker – blazer, crisply-ironed shirt, club tie, grey flannels with razor-sharp creases and well-polished shoes.
His headwear was less conventional.
Not the customary Panama seen around London NW8.
Instead, a large straw cowboy’s stetson, more in keeping with Rawhide! The Long Room had rarely seen anything like it before. All Bill was missing were cowboy boots, with angled heels!
It was a day to remember as Shrewsbury took three Hastings wickets in the final over to record a famous two-run win.
“Bill was a top club man, completely unselfish,” said his skipper Steve Gale. “He was a very useful early season bowler, particularly when the pitches were green.”
And he made a major contribution to our winning the game against Walsall when five of us were on county duty.“
Taking his bow as a player
For both the club and Bill it was an annus mirabilis.
Barely a month short of his 40th birthday he had taken 48 wickets for the seconds, at just 8.79.
And that in a period between 1975 and 1983 when he also claimed 137 first-team wickets at 18.44.
Bill was one of 13 first-team squad players inducted into the club’s unofficial hall of fame by being named an Honorary Life Member.
He then finally hung up his bowling boots to concentrate on the successful family stud farm at Ellerdine, which he and Di had taken over from his parents, Cecil and Joan, in the early 1980s.
Dual Presidencies
Bill became Shrewsbury president between 1997 and 1999 as the club entered the pyramid system to successfully transition into the Birmingham Premier League, thereafter helping to fly the kite for Shropshire cricket.
His involvement with the county continued. His committee views were often forthright, but always sound and to the point.
“Well done. Sorted. Let’s move on.” He did not do A.O.B.
In November 2014 he was invited by Toby Shaw to become president, succeeding the late Bryan Foulkes.
He felt deeply honoured and privileged to accept a post which he remained in until 2023 before finally stepping down following the loss of his beloved Di, his support both on and off the field and in business for over 50 years.
The Jester
Brom was a hugely charismatic, magnetic figure from dressing room to boundary’s edge to the club bar. There was no happier occasion than recounting tales of mishaps and mad moments with old friend and team-mate R.A. Jones. They entertained many with their spontaneous comedy and storytelling. They could have both been scripted for Fawlty Towers or Open All Hours.
Bill remained ever the jester, with R.A. his ‘straight man’. Their humour and self-deprecation was always a lightning rod on the field of play when, in the heat of the moment, words might be exchanged.
On Tour
Bill and R.A. travelled many a mile together, not only with Shrewsbury and the county, but also with the ”Tatty Bogles” and Shropshire Gents on annual tours to Devon and the West Country, not to mention overseas. Who else could find themselves being part of a wedding reception on a Caribbean island, enjoying the hospitality of the bride’s father when not even appearing on the official guest list?
Away trips were always an adventure, particularly when the wife was not chauffeuring. One car suddenly turned automatic when the gearstick came away in his hand. Another filled up with water following a cloudburst after the sunroof had stayed open!
Bill was well travelled. He knew all the right roads, although not necessarily in the right order.
He made no apologies for his reluctance to embrace satellite-based navigation technology nor indeed social media . . . ”What’s Up?” And “Face Wham!”
In latter years, he left the driving to his close friend and county stalwart, Peter Bradley, another architect of that 1973 Championship winning side.
Darlington Away – There’s Only Two Freddie Frys
Then there was that long away trip to Darlington to watch Shrewsbury CC colleagues Alan Durban and Ken Mulhearn play for the Town.
On a cold and murky January afternoon, where better than the Feethams boardroom?
With no pass and no form of identity, an elaborate strategy was devised to gain entry.
Bill would present himself as Shrewsbury Town vice-chairman, with guests.
It was a bold plan as there was no physical similarity between him and the then Town vice-chairman Freddie Fry, but this ruse had enjoyed success in gaining entry into visiting directors’ boxes on previous away trips.
Sure enough, the man on the door, was completely ”sold” as to Bill’s ‘credentials.
But, unbeknown to Bill, Freddie had also made the long trip to the north-east that day.
On arrival, Freddie also sought light refreshment, courtesy of the home club.
The man in the peaked cap was utterly confused, Fry less so, as Bromley and friends went rapidly in search of the fire exit.
Horse Breeder
Away from cricket, Bill was an astute, successful horse breeder – a prominent figure in National Hunt racing. He had grown up with horses from an early age when his parents ran the Wood Farm Stud, where Bill and Di carried on the family business, standing many successful stallions.
These included Space King, Sir Harry Lewis and Classic Cliche and, more recently, Lucarno. The stud was finally sold in 2012, having become one of the UK’s pre-eminent National Hunt stud farms.
Bill bred the top-class jumper Yanworth (Norse Dancer) and was owner-breeder of the Aintree Mares’ Bumper winner Rhaacophorus (Classic Cliche).
Bill was awarded the Queen Mother’s Silver Salver in 2000 and Sir Harry Lewis was the recipient of the leading GB NH Stallion Award in 2007.
His deep love and knowledge of horses was passed on to son Anthony, himself now a noted bloodstock agent.
Bill was particularly proud of his son’s achievements as he was of his younger son, Christopher, a successful Oxford publisher.
Peter Bradley on Brom
“Anybody who is connected with cricket in the county, or Minor Counties cricket, will know or have enjoyed Bill’s company.
“Wherever the county team played, Bill would be the first person they would welcome along with Di.
“Bill was a very generous person and organised celebration events at Wood Farm, along with many dinners for supporters and friends.
“He was a very easy-going person but had strong principals. He refused to wear the county blazer, stating that only the players who had represented the county had earned the right to wear it. Bill associated with the players and was the players’ favourite supporter.
“He never accepted SatNav. His way was always better, and mobile phones were not his strong point. I have never seen him prouder than when he was photographed at the races with father, son and grandson, who was the winning jockey. Another proud moment was when his home-bred horse, Rhaacophorus, came from last to win at Aintree.
“There are so many memories of Bill you could write a book about them.”
Legacy
Bill Bromley’s life was a rich tapestry of sporting achievement and pleasure. Jester he may have been but, beneath that self-effacing exterior, he was sharp, quick witted and ever generous with his time. On occasions outspoken and sometimes irreverent, he always understood the subtleties of the game both and off the field, cherishing and valuing its long history and traditions.
His love and passion for cricket and those who played it, particularly from and within Shropshire, was deep and enduring, as was his love and zest for life. It was a love he shared with all with all. For many, this will be his abiding legacy
Our thoughts are very much with Anthony and Christopher and their families at this sad time.
Bill’s Thanksgiving Service will take place on Wednesday 11 November (2.30pm) at St Michael & All Angels Church, High Ercall, Telford, TF6 6BE. All are welcome.
Ties and scarves may be worn in blue and yellow – his racing colours and also those of Shropshire County Cricket Club.