Glerum Willem Image 1 De Flamingos 1932

Amsterdam, Netherlands born right-handed batsman Willem “Bill” Glerum represented Holland 30 times between 1928 and 1957 and was for many years a driving force behind Dutch cricket. He played for de Flamingo’s club from the age of 16. De Flamingo’s were a wandering club from Holland who came on various tours to England in the 1930’s.

He played a few games for the British Empire XI and the RAF while serving in England during the Second World War, and in 1957, aged 45, played his only match deemed first class game for Free Foresters against Oxford University. His medium pace bowling captured three cheap wickets in the match for only 32 runs, including the Oxford captain Chris Walton for 95. Batting in the middle order, Glerum scored nought and one. “Bill made you feel cricket was worth playing simply by being around him,” said the former Marylebone Cricket Club (M.C.C.) secretary Jack Bailey, who recalled coming across him on a club tour to Brazil. He captained VRA and the All Holland XI, and during some years in South America he played for Brazil XI and South America XI.

He enjoyed a long life and passed away in August 2002 four days before his 91st birthday.

NB in the photograph Glerum (left) walks out to bat with E.J.A. Schill at Lord’s on 16th July 1932 on the occasion of de Flamingo’s tour match against The M.C.C.