William Lucius Kelly (1875-1968). Manager of the Australian touring team to England 1930.

William Lucius Kelly (1875-1968). Manager of the Australian touring team to England 1930. A collection of correspondence, letters, two envelopes,photographs and cards covering the period 1930 to 1939 between Kelly and Miss Sheila Chase, Manageress of the Midland Grand Hotel, London with whom he formed a friendship and relationship following the Australians staying at the hotel whilst playing tour and Test matches in London. Sold with this correspondence is a rare black opal and diamond gold ring given to Sheila Chase by Kelly. There are ten letters and one Christmas card covering the period plus a signed studio portrait photograph (by Bolland) of Kelly dated September 1930 and a mounted postcard of the 1930 Australian team signed to the mount by all the players including Woodfull, Bradman, Jackson, Fairfax, Grimmett, Ponsford, Oldfield, McCabe, Kelly, Richardson etc. The letters begin in September 1930 on his return from Ireland and just prior to leaving to travel back to Australia 'I am terribly disappointed in not being able to have an evening with you prior to my departure from England.... but two Dinner and Theatre parties... at which I am 'Guest of Honour' has completely put the lid on any dearest hopes..... So it is good bye Sheila... I will not be able to call at the hotel on Monday but will be there without fail on Tuesday morning to say good bye in person'. He asks her to write a letter addressed care of the 'S.S. Oransay' Orient Company, Naples, Italy 'would I think reach there before the boat.... I shall always retain glowing thoughts of the golden hours spent in your company and hope the very near future holds for you sweet romance, love and happiness'. He writes again, 'c/o Victorian Cricket Association, Flinders Street, Melbourne', on the 1st November 1931. 'Just a hurried note to say I am sending this morning through the Orient Com[pan]y... the little keepsake I mentioned in my previous letter. The stone is black opal- rather rare even in Australia which is the only country where it is found. We also have a very pretty light green opal but it is not nearly so rare as the black. The gold is from Kalgoorlie, so the ring is 100% Australian. I hope you will not dislike it Sheila and that you will wear it sometimes- just as a reminder of someone at the other end of the earth who was very happy in your society'. The third letter dated 5th April 1934 talks of the Bodyline dispute and the role he played in it 'Sad to say I am not going to England. All my friends kept on telling me that owing to the somewhat prominent part I took in the awful 'Bodyline' dispute my reception in English cricket circles would be very cool and 'my room[?]' would be preferable to my company. Under the circumstances I have reluctantly decided to remain in Melbourne.... Alan Kippax is going to call on you and Mary Pickford Dibbs [nickname for one of the players]. Alan still smiles his way through life. I have arranged for two or three tickets to be sent to you for the two Test matches in London. If there should be any delay, post the Manager Harold Bushby the enclosed card as a reminder'.... 'I hope you have a jolly time in England this coming summer and before it is over write me congratulating the tiny population in this country on regaining 'The Ashes of English Cricket', the Davis Cup' and comparing home with our small representation in the Olympic Games. What!!'. 'We are celebrating the centenary of Melbourne in October next, when we expect an influx of about 100,000 visitors from overseas, What about coming out with Prince George?..... ps What about sending Alan a sprig of heather, if he is in the team for the vital Test match?'. The fourth letter is written at about the time of the 5th and final Test of 1934 and dated 10th August 1934. 'By the time this reaches you the 5th and last Test will be almost finished. I hope we win- but good luck to you.... It is nice to hear that England would welcome me with open arms. If I were sure that your arms were wide open I would swim the 12,000 miles and risk the denizens of the deep- including the Lockness Monster and any stray Mermaids. I receive letters by each mail from some of the team. They all seem to be having a very pleasant time.... We have great parties each night of the Test matches and listen in to a ball-for ball description of the game until 3am. A further letter from later in 1934 reads 'I met all the players on their return and they all told me they had nothing like the time we had in 1930, and were nice enough to say they missed me sadly. They had a meeting in London regarding the missing agreement[?] and neglect of the team by the Manager... I understand there were other serious facets'. The next letter dated 1938 talks of the onset of possible war 'Is'nt it wonderful to think what a lucky escape from the horrors of war!. I suppose your brother returned from Germany?'. 'I wish to sympathise with England in not winning the 'Ashes'. It was quite evident that you were the better team. I hear that young Hutton has 'cashed in' on his big score and is autographing everything from prayer books to ladies scanties!'. The last four letters all dated 1939 concern Sheila's brother attempts to obtain for a Jewish friend in Germany application to enter Australia with, hopefully help from Bill Kelly, one is sent to her brother and the other three to Sheila 'I had written to your sister informing her that the axe has fallen at this end on your friends application to enter Australia. I regret the decision for your sake but I must tell you quite candidly that Jews (especially tradesman) are about as welcome in Australia as refrigerators are to eskimo's ... 'I know that other nations think we a hell of a cheek but thats our 'White Australian Policy and a few million Australians are prepared to fight Japs or anyone else to maintain it'. Kelly send useful advice to Sheila regarding the application 'show him the letter received by me from Canberra. You could also tell him that Pergamenteres [?] [Jewish friend] friends in Australia who signed his application form are W.L. Kelly, Harry Breeton, Sec V.C.A and Vernon Ransford (Aust XI). 'I wish you success with his Jewish friends but I don't like your chances'. 'Mr Hitler missed his golden opportunity in September and there is no possibility of it occurring again [Chamberlain meeting Hitler]'. [letter dated June 1939]. There is also a photocopy of a letter from the Jewish friend to Mr Chase written in German with a typed translation '... We both have the visa for France but unfortunately not others yet. You and Australia are our only hope. Please get in touch immediate...'. The ring itself has been professionally examined and valued and is described in the valuation as a Opal doublet and diamond three stone ring, a black opal stone of even patches of fire of mixed colours of fine quality. The dimensions are length 22mm, width 14mm and depth 3.9mm. The weight 5.45ct. Two old brilliant cut diamonds. Condition, very good with a replacement value of £3,500.  A copy of the valuation is sold with the lot. A fascinating insight into the decade of the 1930's, Australian cricket tours to England, feelings over the Bodyline controversy, the enormous problems faced by European Jews and on the onset of the Second World War.