Tragedy over blue plaque denied to only player to hit a ball over Lord’s pavilion
THE only cricketer to have ever hit a ball clean over the Lord’s pavilion earned worldwide plaudits in 1899.
Albert Trott, an Australian who played for England, was named cricketer of the year and hailed as one of the best in his generation. But when an application was made for him to be commemorated with a blue plaque on his home in Willesden, north-west London, English Heritage said no.
Now, campaigners say that Trott’s struggles with depression, which led him to take his own life, overshadowed his on-field achievements and could have been a factor in the plaque rejection.
Trott was penniless when he died, having lost his job, family and home, with the MCC paying for his funeral. There is no permanent commemoration to the all-rounder, even at Lord’s, although it still has his bat.
Last year, Steve Neal, who wrote Over and Out: Albert Trott: The Man Who Cleared the Lord’s Pavilion, a biography of Trott, applied to English Heritage for a blue plaque to be fixed to Trott’s home, but it refused.
“His achievements have been overlooked by many because of the taint of suicide,” says Mr Neal, but English Heritage says it rejected the application for other reasons.
Howard Spencer, the historian who directs the research into the London blue plaques for the charity, said there was “a set criteria” and that “the most important aspects of that is that person has to be of significant public standing and to have made a positive contribution to human welfare or happiness. We are looking for fame, not infamy.”
English Heritage added: “Ultimately, the panel decided that his overall sporting record wasn’t so exceptional.”
However, Dawn Butler, the Labour MP for Brent, told The Daily Telegraph: “I support the campaign for Albert Trott to be formally recognised for his achievements and I am proud that he lived in Brent. We must do all we can to celebrate great sporting talents and that includes those who, sadly, suffer from mental health issues.
“The way his life tragically ended does not take anything away from what he achieved, and marking his achievements
‘We must do all we can to celebrate great sporting talents, including those [with] mental health issues’
can help others in sport who may have mental health problems and encourage them to seek help.” Some 35 people were rejected in 2017. While 12 plaques were put up, Philippa Fawcett, the mathematician daughter of Millicent Fawcett, the leading suffragist, was one who missed out.
Mr Spencer said: “It was felt her later career didn’t quite match up to the early promise. You can’t commemorate someone on early promise.”
But Sam Smethers, of the Fawcett Society, a charity campaigning for women’s rights, said: “It is really disappointing and short-sighted. Her early achievements alone merit the honour because she experienced institutional sexism and discrimination.”