Memorial cricket match in honour of Goole’s famous son

To commemorate the centenary of the death of Goole’s own ‘gentleman’s gentleman’, Percy Jeeves at the Battle of the Somme on July 22, 1916, Goole Town Cricket Club are dedicating a cricket match in his memory.

Goole and Warwickshire cricketer Percy was the inspiration for P.G. Wodehouse’s Jeeves the butler and earlier this year was honoured by Goole’s Civic Society with the unveiling of the town’s first Blue Plaque in his memory at the corner of Manuel Street and Boothferry Road.

The match is to be played at Goole Town Cricket Club’s ground, Westfield, Carr Lane, Goole on Sunday, July 17 with a start time of 1.30pm. The match is 40 overs per side.

There will be a ‘Percy Jeeves’ trophy presented to the winners of a match between Goole Academy/3rd team and Gilberdyke 2nds. The match is a York conference league fixture played under their rules, so if there is a draw, the trophy will be shared. Teams are generally junior cricketers, and there will be commemorative medals for the players.

Percy spent his boyhood at 72 Manuel Street and played for Goole Town Cricket Club before becoming professional and playing County Cricket for Warwickshire. In 1913, P. G. Wodehouse saw him play a match at Cheltenham and was so impressed he later used the name for Bertie Wooster’s immaculate manservant.

Goole Clubhouse will be open for refreshments during the commemorative match, and all are invited to support the teams and mark the sacrifice made by one of Goole’s most inspirational sons.