Bill Lawry
Lawry was born in the Melbourne suburb of Thornbury. He was given the names William Morris after the early Prime Minister of Australia, William Morris Hughes. His father Alfred played amateur cricket until the age of 51. Bill never saw his father play, who was aged 47 when Bill was born. Aged nine, he played competitive cricket for the first time with the Thornbury Presbyterian Church team. He spent three years there, as well as playing for Preston Technical School. When he was twelve, he entered Melbourne's district competition playing for Northcote's fourth team, working his way up to the First XI by the age of sixteen. At the time, he was apprenticed as a plumber and attending Preston Technical College. Lawry was selected for Victoria's Second XI at the age of seventeen. He made a duck against the South Australians and did not see any further action for the Seconds for the rest of the summer of 1954–55. The following season, Lawry was recalled to the Seconds and scored 183 against South Australia.
Old Hill Cricket Club
Old Hill joined the Birmingham League in 1920, and first won the league in its second year of membership. They also won the Division 1 title in 1940, 1960, and 1983. Their 1st XI currently plays in Division 1 and the 2nd XI play in the 2nd XI Premier Division. The 3rd XI meanwhile plays in the Worcestershire County Cricket League. They are one of the most prominent clubs in English cricket, winning the ECB National Club Cricket Championship in 1984, 1985, 1987 and 1993, and being runners-up in 1989. Over the years the club has been associated with many famous cricketers including Eric Hollies who went on to play for Warwickshire and England and also Charles Palmer who played at the age of 14 batting at number 11 for Old Hill 2nd XI. He was later to rise from this lowly beginning to play for Worcestershire, Leicestershire and England and ultimately became secretary to Leicestershire and President of the MCC eventually taking the premier post in cricket as Chairman of the Cricket Council and the Test and County Cricket Board.