Bill Voce, an all-time Nottinghamshire great who played 427 first class matches between 1927 and 1952, remains very much a celebrated figure at Trent Bridge in the present day.
Best known for his fast bowling partnership with Harold Larwood, the duo are remembered via the naming of a stand and a popular pub that borders Trent Bridge on Fox Road.
A collection of Voce memorabilia in the Pavilion; include the silver salver that was presented to his widow upon the naming of the stand and an ashtray given to him after his efforts in the Bodyline series, by England captain Douglas Jardine.
To still be remembered so fondly some 89 years since making his debut is testament to the achievements of the left-arm pace bowling all-rounder, both for Club and for country.
Born and raised in Annesley Woodhouse, what went on to become an exemplary career was almost over before it began as Voce turned down Nottinghamshire’s first contract offer.
Luckily a second offer was made quickly after, and accepted, as Voce took his place on the groundstaff for 1926.
His left-arm bowling took 35 wickets during that summer for the Second XI and – as Trent Bridge librarian and historian Peter-Wynne Thomas remembers fondly – the rest was history.
“After changing to left arm pace instead of spin, Voce’s round the wicket line and firing the ball into the right hander with a packed leg side field meant he became a key component for Jardine in the Bodyline series,” Wynne-Thomas said of the man who took 98 wickets in 27 Tests for England.
“He and Larwood formed a brilliant partnership for both England and Nottinghamshire.
“Despite all that talk about the Bodyline series in 1932/33, it was during the following tour, in 36/37, that Voce flourished as Larwood wasn’t around anymore.
“Voce blew away the Australians with 6-41 and 4-16 in the first Test followed by 4-10 and 3-66 in the second, without using the Bodyline tactic from the previous tour."
Voce’s overall record for the Club encompasses a monumental 1,558 wickets at an average of 23.08, including 83 five-wicket hauls.
The hard-hitting batsman also scored over 7,500 runs for Notts with a highest score of 129, one of his four hundreds.
“His Nottinghamshire record is also very good and at the time of retiring he had played the most England Tests by a player for the Club, having toured Australia three times and both South Africa and West Indies once,” added Wynne-Thomas.
“Having been picked for the Australia series in 1946/47, following the war, he only played two more Tests before retiring and taking on the role as Nottinghamshire coach.
“He came out of retirement in 1951 for one game, took five wickets and added 40 runs, with the aid of a runner, as he wasn’t nearly fit enough to still be playing.”
Find out more about the life and career of Bill Voce here...
The 2015 season saw dramatic last-gasp four day victories, thrilling limited-overs contests and an historic Investec Ashes Test, all in the unique surroundings of Trent Bridge.
Next season, we’d wager, will be no less enthralling and frankly we’d hate for you to miss out.