The dramatic highs of Test cricket at a packed Headingley can feel a world away from the sizzle of a deep fat fryer on a quiet Cornish beach. For former England fast bowler Chris Old, that was the reality of a remarkable second innings after hanging up his boots.
The Headingley Hero Who Hung Up His Spikes
Chris 'Chilly' Old, now 76, enjoyed a distinguished cricket career spanning eight years at international level and a staggering 19 in county cricket, primarily for Yorkshire where he started in 1966. Crowned a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1979, his finest hour came during the iconic 1981 Ashes series.
With England in dire straits at Headingley, Old walked to the crease with the score at 252 for eight and a lead of just 25. The renowned bowler then played a crucial supporting role in a 67-run partnership with the swashbuckling Ian Botham. He followed this batting rescue act by taking the vital wicket of Australian star Allan Border for a duck in the second innings, helping to secure one of England's most famous victories.
A New Life by the Sea in Cornwall
Injuries forced Old to retire in 1987, and a hoped-for ongoing role in cricket never materialised. "I'd hoped to keep working in cricket, but it didn't happen," he told The Guardian in 2008. After buying a holiday home in Cornwall, he and his second wife, Letitia, made a permanent move and opened Clipper Fish on Praa Sands near Penzance.
"The most sensible thing to do was open a cafe, not just for tourists but for local people," he explained. "When we found this place right on the beach we went for it. Praa Sands is the jewel of the coast." The transition from the crease to the chip fryer was total, involving long hours, cash and carry runs, and the manual labour of 'rumbling the potatoes' – processing 56lb bags to remove skins.
Chips, Complaints, and Supermarket Shifts
Running the business was a hands-on family affair, though not without its humorous challenges. Old recalled one customer who complained about finding bones in his fish. His wife Letitia famously retorted: "Fish do have bones – otherwise they wouldn't be able to swim."
After 11 years, the couple closed the chippy in 2009 following the financial crisis. By 2017, Old had taken a job at a Sainsbury's supermarket in Truro, looking after the newspaper and magazine section. "There are people who still come across and ask if it is me and it is a nice situation to be in," he said, noting that conversations often turned to the 1981 Ashes.
Despite contentment in his later life, a tinge of regret about leaving cricket behind remains. "I'm happy with my life now, but yes, I do regret that I haven't been able to stay in the game: it's in your blood," he admitted, expressing sadness that a generation of experienced players from the 70s and 80s have been passed over for coaching roles in favour of younger candidates. For this Ashes icon, life's second innings proved just as demanding, if rather more greasy, than the first.
