Tim Bishop joined Southgate Cricket the Club in 1938 as a fourteen-year-old, and was a member of the first ever Southgate Colts side.
Christened Alastair, he was accorded the nickname “Tiny Tim” at a very early age; as time passed he far outgrew the ‘tiny’ aspect but he remained Tim for ever. He successfully captained the Club 2nd XI from 1953 to 1958 and again in 1960 in which season his team won thirty games and lost only six. He served the Club on numerous committees, was Chairman from 1969-72 and President from 1991-93. On the field, Tim’s best bowling figures were 7-39 against Mayfield in 1957 and he made his only century, 109 not out, against Ferme Park in 1966.
He took up umpiring in 1974 and became arguably the most respected club umpire on the London club circuit. In 1975 he achieved national fame in the Daily Mirror when he no-balled Jeff Thomson in a tour practice match played at Southgate. He subsequently officiated at many top club games and for twenty years umpired for Middlesex CCC, including several appearances at Lords.
Tim was a regular visitor to the ground until distance and the discomfort of travelling got the better of him. He and Deborah moved from Grange Park to Broxted initially, and then more recently, Ickleton, near Saffron Walden. Tim, however, continued to be a loyal supporter of the Club, regularly telephoning members to check the progress of the Club’s teams over the previous weekend.
His fondness for children extended to having six of his own, and he enjoyed a career in the toy industry which continued well past normal retirement age.
His courtesy, old-style standards and manners were an integral part of the ongoing reputation of Southgate Cricket Club. He would have very much approved of the Fair Play Award recently made to the 1st XI at the 2011 Middlesex County Cricket League Dinner.
See below the entertaining tale of Tim and Thommo in the Daily Mail, click on the image to zoom in.
Tim’s funeral is on Tuesday, 1st November, 2011 at 11.15 a.m. at
Cambridge City Crematorium, West Chapel, Grafton, CB3 0JJ
For those who find it too far to travel it is hoped to have a Memorial
Service for Tim at the Ground later in the year.
So sad to hear the news.
Unfortunately, I only knew Tim during his later years and never knew him as a player.
However, I enjoyed his company enough to have total respect for him as a man.
Polite, courteous, gracious and humorous. In every way, a true gentleman.
I’m sure he will be greatly missed by many.
I was fortunate to be able to play cricket with Tim, possibly in his final season 1974 or 1975. With many I remember him as a thoughtful and thoroughly efficient umpire with a deep love of the game and an interest in all who were participating. These were the days when the umpires changed in the same area as the players – his after match comments were always relevant if not always what the players wanted to hear! His comments were not always immediately welcome to youngsters with an inflated sense of their own ability, but on reflection were based on an impartial reading of the game. Although always limited in ability, I’m sure in time I became a better player thanks to constructive criticism. In today’s world which includes league umpires (in my part of the world!) weilding yellow and red cards Tim represents a saner and more pragmatic era where players were not necessrily better behaved (Wilf Puffett!?) but everything was dealt with on a very adult and mature level. No one could argue that the ‘77 side were uncompetitive or lacked aggression – in modern parlance “up for it” – a lot went unsaid but was all the more powerful for it. Captaining youngsters today I try in a small way to encourage thinking cricket, and many suddenly realise that if they keep their mouths shut and the result of their efforts can suddenly improve! Thanks Tim for the help you gave me and all you probably had to put up with from difficult players over the years…….
I played my first game under Tim at the age of 12 at Radlett, he made a big impreesion on me and taught me a lot about how cricket should be played. If only the modern day players had Tims standards today! I was then fortunate enough to play in hundreds of games when he was umpiring, he always had control of the match and was much respected. There were many times on a Sunday when the opposition would turn up without an umpire, i would then phone Tim and his reply was always the same. I will just finish my lunch and i will be straight over, he never failed to help. I will miss his sunday morning phone calls but not his constant blinkered opinion on Arsenal!!!! Thanks for everything Tim, you will be missed but never forgotten.
My mother and all the family would like to thank everyone for their kind messages of condolence. There will be an informal memorial gathering at the Walker Ground at 11-30 a.m. on Saturday 10th December, 2011. All are very welcome.
Tim’s passing has brought a full stop in my life. I met him first at a club fixture with the British Empire X1 when I asked him for his autograph during the war. After passing through the colts and National Service, I met him again in my second senior game for Southgate in 1955. I played most of my cricket under his captaincy in the seconds before being lucky enough to pass for a short time into the then first 1st.X1.
Tim’s enthusiasm for cricket and indeed for life itself knew no bounds and indeed, he really did appear to be the epitome of ‘Mr. Southgate Cricket Club’, as a captain, then as an umpire as well as an administrator
I played a lot of my golf with him on Sunday mornings during the winter and I remember that he was mustard around the greens. He was an exception among us all in that I never did recall him losing his temper or throwing a club! I taught him to qualify as an umpire and it was eventually the case of the pupil teaching the master.
Farewell old friend; hope you find a club as good as Southgate where you have gone.
I first became aware of Tim Bishop when playing for Enfield Grammar School in 1979. At the time I did not know who he was but assumed he must be a professional. He had that air about him. Within a matter of weeks Jim Conroy had “signed me up” for Southgate whereupon Tim was one of the first to welcome this slightly reserved 16 year old to what in then in the late 1970s was just about the top club in north London.
For the following year or two I spent most of my time playing in the 2nd & 3rd XIs often with Tim as Sunday umpire. It was in an oppostion changing room, I think quite possibly Chingford, that I can still remember him saying to me that I could play in the first team. I was somewhat taken aback by this, I certainly didn’t see myself up there with Rowie, Dunny, Hailey, Smethers et al. Well it may have taken several more years but he was eventually proved correct.
A very warm and generous man, we remained good friends from those teenage years through to my middle age. A true club man, he will be missed but never forgotton.
Having tried to pay tribute to Tim and having failed several times I can but hope this attempt succeeds. For well over 50 years we shared our love of cricket, golf, Arsenal and (not a lot of people know this) table tennis. So many memories and always a cheerful welcome. Tony is right that he never seemed to lose his temper but he did come close to it once when I was taking far too long to take a putt on a very cold winters day. After all he was tending the flag and feared getting frostbite!
Tim was a loyal friend and supportive always but particularly during difficult times. One of the very best.
Like others I feel that a part of the basic structure of the club has been taken away with Tim – to be replaced by the enduring memory of his enthusiasm, his kindness, his impeccable standards of behaviour and his love of the club.
I must have played some of my first games at the club with Tim in the middle sixties, and he and his band of contemporaries were always marvellously supportive and encouraging to other young players and myself. But I shall remember him most as the most loyal supporter of the 1st XI and of course as a first-rate, totally honest and conscientious umpire. He loved being involved in the game and the club’s success, and he became one of those people, like Jim Conroy and Chris Payne, who in the subconsciousness of those from other clubs always represented and conjured up thoughts of Southgate.
He was so conscientious and honest that one wondered at times whether the club might actually suffer from having him standing in an important game – might he fail to give that marginal but justified decision in our favour for fear of appearing biased? I know he thought closely about such things, and the impressive turnout of fellow umpires at his recent memorial testified to him standing for everything that an umpire should be – not only his incorruptibility and sound judgement, but also, as others have highlighted, his patience and good humour.
So goodbye Tim – you were a genuinely good person, you touched so many people, and were an integral part of a great club. I’m really grateful to have known you, and I am sure your name will repeatedly crop up so long as cricketers of your time get together and chew the fat about the past.