John Holder’s biography launched at Barbados High Commission

John Holder

John Holder, who has called Rochdale his home for over 40 years, ‘is over the moon’ at having his biography, Test of Character, launched at Barbados High Commission with a book signing at Lord’s Cricket Ground last Wednesday during a Test match between England and Pakistan.

Mr Holder is Rochdale Rotary Club’s current President, hosting fundraising charity cricket dinners with famous faces like former England bowler Jonathan Agnew and former captain of the England team which won the Ashes in 2005, Michael Vaughan.

Part of his role has also included visiting schools in the Rochdale Borough, which Mr Holder describes as ‘very humbling, but nice to return to grassroots level.’

Mr Holder’s biography covers his life as a young child in Barbados and his professional cricket career, which spanned from 1966-2010 as both bowler and umpire. He retired from bowling following a back injury.

He said: “I used to be able to bowl at 90 miles per hour. I missed first class cricket so I returned as an umpire when I moved to the North West in 1974.

“I loved umpiring because it suited my personality, and I got to meet great players and see their techniques.

“One match that I remember as particularly enjoyable was my last Test match in 2001 at Lord’s between England and Australia, despite the bad weather and lighting.”

Mr Holder began playing cricket as a young boy after his father taught him and his siblings. He played the popular sport at every opportunity, and went on to bowl for his high school.

He later moved to England to play for Hampshire, where he met friend and batsman Andrew Murtagh, who also wrote Mr Holder’s biography.

Mr Murtagh has previously written biographies for other famous cricket players like South African batsman Barry Richards, the late Tom Graveney OBE and the late George Chesterton.

The idea came about after Mr Holder’s wife suggested it at an ex-cricket players’ reunion and Mr Murtagh, who lives in Malvern, regularly used Skype to hold interviews.

Mr Holder, who has been a regional umpires’ performance manager for the ICC (International Cricket Council), currently holds two presidency positions for the ACO (Association of Cricket Officials) as President of Lancashire and Pennine Cricket Leagues.