Joseph Lovering - from gravestone to Grace. The story of a Victorian professional cricketer

Tell us what you think of this episode The latest episode is a voyage of discovery. Eleri Phillips and Martyn Griffiths are members of St Cadwg’s Church in Cadoxton near Neath. Eleri, a recent volunteer with the graveyard restoration scheme, discovered a gravestone with simply a name on it. That name was Joseph Lovering. After some research of her own, the details were placed on the Church’s social media. Martyn, who is a local historian, was intrigued by this man who appeared to be a professional cricketer. He discovered more details of Joe’s story, his early life which must have been very difficult, his coming to prominence as a cricketer and his life as he combined playing as a paid cricketer and his other job as a painter. Martyn and Eleri have revealed the story of a welsh cricketer who was encouraged by the support of one of the most important men to develop high class cricket in Wales, JTD Llewellyn of Penllergaer. Joe also found at some point in his career on the opposite side to the greatest sportsman of the Victorian era, WG Grace. Martyn has tracked down these occasions and tells us a little bit about them as well as perhaps his most successful performance at the Home of Cricket. As Martyn tells us, ‘History is never complete’ so there may be further for this story to go . . . we will follow it too. Those interested in learning a little bit more about Sporting Heritage can go here: https://www.sportingheritage.org.uk/content/events/national-sporting-heritage-day/welcome-to-national-sporting-heritage-day Sporting Heritage can be found on www.sportingheritage.org This week’s episode has made mention of mental health difficulties. Those wishing to find out where they might get help for themselves or someone they know about can go here: https://www.callhelpline.org.uk/