Ernie Harris, a stalwart of St. Fagans CC and the Cardiff University staff team, is the latest Welsh cricketer to have his achievements at club - as well as briefly at county level with Glamorgan - celebrated in the CC4 Museum of Welsh Cricket at the SWALEC Stadium.
Thanks to the generosity of Ernie's son and daughter, a number of items charting his playing career with Glamorgan plus for St. Fagans and Cardiff University are on public display for the first-ever time. These delightful items include a certificate, signed by the legendary Surrey and England batsman Jack Hobbs which was presented to Ernie in 1935 when, aged sixteen, he scored a century for Canton High School and won a competition run by the News Chronicle newspaper.
After further impressive innings, Ernie made his Glamorgan debut in 1938 against Kent at Maidstone. He made three further appearances before the Second World War, besides re-appearing for the county again in 1947 when Glamorgan visited Sheffield to meet Yorkshire. His involvement with the county club continued several years later when he served on their committee besides acting as Match Manager for several one-day games, including in 1973 the inaugural One-Day International to be staged in Wales when England met New Zealand at Swansea.
Following the Second World War, Ernie became one of the lynchpins of the successful St. Fagans club and through his administrative work at Cardiff University, he also become a leading figure in the University's staff team, playing with distinction until the 1980s. By this time he had also served as the university's Registrar, and amongst the charming items on display is a toy owl, dressed in cricket kit and carrying a bat, which was presented to Ernie on his retirement form the university.
"We are thrilled that Dad's items are on display in the Museum," said Roger Harris - the son of the former all-rounder who is seen in the photograph above with his sister Christine. "Cricket gave him so much pleasure over the years, and I'm sure that seeing the selection of lovely items which we have loaned to the Museum will give plenty of pleasure to those who remember playing against him for St. Fagans or the University side, as well as those who have a general interest in Welsh cricket."
The items from the Harris family, together with other objects from St. Fagans CC will be on display in the CC4 Museum of Welsh Cricket for the next few months. As far as December and January is concerned, the Museum will be open in December and January from 10am-3pm on the following days - Dec 3rd, Dec 4th, Dec 12th, Jan 7th, Jan 9th, Jan 10th, Jan 13th, Jan 15th, Jan 20th, Jan 21st, Jan 24th, Jan 28th and Jan 29th.
For full details of opening times and further information about the Museum, please visit http://glamorgancricket.com/glamorgan/stadium/cc4_museum_of_welsh_cricket.php
