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| 1 Apr 2019 | |
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| MAYMAN, Ian, Major D.L. CStJ Died on 12 December 2017, aged 90. His family write: Mayman and Alexander opened the batting for Tonbridge in the annual Clifton v Tonbridge match at Lords in 1945. After a maiden first over, Mayman faced his first ball from Pudsey the Clifton bowler, a very fast away swinger: he let it go past. The second ball he attempted a cut through cover but only managed to snick it through the slips. Four very chancey runs for Tonbridge. "Play carefully, take no chances, you are both meant to stay there, not to thrash the bowling” had said John Knott, the cricket master, as they went out to bat. Pudsey bowled again, he let it go past to the keeper and the next one as well. Then came a ball, designed to be cut. He made his stroke, a snick and the ball was in the keeper’s hands! He began the long walk back to the pavilion. In those days you left the crease without waiting for the umpire's raised finger. Approaching the pavilion, he became aware of a commotion both in the stands and behind on the field: "Come back, come back, you're not out" they shouted. Mayman once again covered the long walk back, took up his guard, Pudsey bowled, snick, ball in wicket keeper's hands, umpire raises finger. He makes the long walk again. The London newspapers that evening reported the incident under headlines, "The boy who walked" and "Schoolboy Opener Ignores Lords Umpires". Short articles grossly sensationalising the incident, and which were largely inaccurate in Mayman's opinion but germinating the cynicism with which he read press reports thereafter. Surely a Max Beerbohm scenario? Conscription followed. WW2 was in its fourth year. After Maidstone Barracks, by troopship to India and officer training at Bangalore. Initially commissioned into 9th Gurkhas where Ian witnessed the horrors of India’s Partition in 1947, transferring to 6th Gurkhas at the start of the Malay Emergency in 1948, and finally joining 10th Gurkhas in Malaya in 1952. His experiences of jungle warfare continued with few respites until the end of the Malaysian Confrontation with Indonesia in 1968. Notable during the latter period when commanding his company, a particularly bitter encounter with Indonesian regulars occurred on the mountainous border between Sarawak and Indonesian Borneo. Ian displayed outstanding personal courage and leadership - particularly when, under enemy fire, he carried a wounded and dying Gurkha down to a less exposed position behind some rocks. In this encounter five of the enemy were killed and eight wounded. His company lost three killed and two wounded. Interspersed through these more than twenty years’ service in the Far East were happier occasions: ADC to General Perowne a Chindit veteran, GOC 17 Gurkha Division and Major General Brigade of Gurkhas who on his retirement appointed Ian an officer of the Venerable Order of St John of Jerusalem, and then The Queen's Coronation Contingent 1953, an overland journey by car with two friends from Kathmandu to England, Marriage to Polly Fairtlough in 1960, Staff College and Staff appointment in BAOR and a mention in despatches for operations in Borneo. With substantial reductions in the armed services pending and the amalgamation of the two battalions of 10th Gurkhas, Ian, then Chief Instructor at Mons Officer Cadet School Aldershot, decided on early retirement in 1969. With Polly and their three children, Venetia, Harry and Tom, they settled in Haslemere. After his three informative years with Shulton GB Ltd, based in London, they decided to own and run an hotel. This was The Talland Bay Hotel in Cornwall which over the years they transformed into a first-class country house hotel. Ian was, over a period of 25 years, involved with St John in Cornwall first as secretary to the council in Cornwall then President for South East Cornwall followed by Deputy President for the county and ultimately promotion to the level of Commander of the Order. For his services to the county of Cornwall Ian was appointed Deputy Lieutenant in 1988. Two things that quickly struck anyone who met Ian was his sense of humour and his composure. He had an extraordinary ability to make light of any situation, no matter how serious, yet to do so in a way that was respectful to its seriousness. Never wallowing in the hardships, but also not disregarding them as of no consequence. (JH 43-45) |
