Memories came bowling back for Terry and Daphne Empson of Great Baddow when they saw our 'Chelmsford Boys at the Alexandria Club' photograph from 1942.

They recognised Essex and England cricket star of the post-war period Peter Smith one of the sports shop Pope and Smith's family.

The Empson's are a keen cricketing couple and recognised him immediately and came up with some of his post war statistics as well.

He took 172 wickets in the 1947 season the then Essex Record which may still not have been surpassed.

That year he bowled 1600 overs and with Frank Vigars scored 163 in the number 11 slot again a record for that position.

Violet Ingram also recognised her late husband, REME Sgt Ernest Ingram who had been a jockey before the war but put on a little too much weight to resume on demob in 46 when he went to work for Jesse Gowers builders and later for Magness and Usher and Unigate as a relief milk roundsperson sadly dying of lung cancer two years after his retirement 15 years ago.

"It was a bit of a shock to see him," said Mrs Ingram of Melbourne, Chelmsford.

"He ate a bit too much plum duff at places like the Alexandria during the war so he could not go back to jockeying for a Capt Gilchrist in Hertfordshire where he was born. We married in 1942 and our first daughter was born in 44."

Published Wednesday December 19, 2001