It's A Knockout 1973 - Heat 4 - Ely Vs Hertford (Sunday 13th May, 1973)

The Ely It's A Knockout Committee met nearly every week in 1973 in the lead-in to the contest at the Cutter Inn, Ely. They also organised various activities connected with It's A Knockout, including an outing to Marcam Hall on 26th February, a jumble sale on 17th March, a dinner-dance on 19th March, outings to St. Ives swimming pool on 30th March, and London on 7th April, a disco on 27th April, market stalls on five occasions, the Ely Knockout Queen contest, and the arrangements for entertaining the teams and helpers after the Domestic Heat on 13th May. They were also responsible for all publicity, for arranging a troupe of cheer-leader, and for obtaining sponsorship to help pay for the kit worn by the Ely team in the recording. Additionally, a sponsored 10-mile walk that the committee organised took place on 25th March 1973 and raised £450 for team funds.

Ely team manager David Cornwell, a teacher and House Master at the King's School in Ely who was known as ‘Mr. Cambridgeshire Bowls’, sadly died of cancer in 1994 having been diagnosed before taking over as President of the English Indoor Bowls Club. He was the son of Les Cornwell, who was the first County Indoor President and, like his son, was also a fine bowler. The English Indoor Bowls Association Headquarters at Melton Mowbray was re-named after David Cornwell as a mark of respect.

Earlier in this series, King’s Lynn had played host to Manchester in the second heat. Whilst this may not appear to have any particular significance, the location of those two teams in respect of those at this heat does. Whilst King’s Lynn and Ely lie just 25 miles (40km) apart, Ely and Hertford actually lie 44 miles (71km) apart, and at the start of the programme this heat was described as a local ‘derby’ match. The better ‘derby’ match would surely have been between King’s Lynn and Ely!