By Tara Murray
A piece of important and forgotten Sunbury and Ashes history is headed to England to be displayed at Lords.
While the Ashes urn has been seen by millions of visitors from across the world, the Ashes bail letter opener has been locked away in a bank vault in Melbourne.
The urn was presented to English cricket captain Ivo Bligh during the 1882-83 tour when the English team were guests of Sir William Clarke and his wife Lady Janet at the Clarke’s property, Rupertswood in Sunbury.
England and Australian cricket teams still play for the urn, with Rupertswood recongised as the birthplace of the Ashes.
Ian Metherall, whose wife is Lady Janet Clarke’s great, great granddaughter, said the letter opener was an important part of Australian sporting history.
It’s the only bail from the first Ashes series that is known to exist today.
“No one really knows about the bail,” he said. “Its a critical component along with the urn.
“People don’t understand the Ashes is also a love story, not just a cricket story and the letter opener was a crucial part in that.”
Bligh had the bail turned into a letter opener for Mrs Clarke as he wanted to keep writing to her female companion Florence Morphy, who he was in love with.
Despite him being a lord and her a pauper, Bligh eventually came to Rupertswood to marry Florence. They had three children.
The Clarke family still owns the letter opener.
Some of the Clarke family still live in the towns surrounding Sunbury.
The bail is being loaned to the MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) for the next four years and will be on display with the Ashes urn.
Former MCC president Stephen Fry first heard the story and set about the process to have it on display.
“It’s been a long journey, but it’s an important part of Australian history,” Mr Metherall said. “Stephen Fry came to know about the bail and it wouldn’t have happened without his support.“
Details on the bail: www.ashesbail.com.au/
