A left handed batsman, right arm fast medium bowler and good outfielder with a big throw. As a young man Keith had been a fast bowler who scored useful runs in the middle and late order however Keith was aged thirty-six by the time he was introduced to the club by Harry Pearce and described himself then as a mediocre all-rounder. He was too modest; his bowling might have lost its pace and edge but he proved an excellent batsman. In his first season he scored two fifties from the early middle order and such was his impact he was voted, jointly with John Heinson, Player of the Year 1984. The following season Andy Thomas, a shrewd captain, looking for a right hand – left hand opening partnership elevated Keith to opening batsman. It was an inspired move. Keith thrived on the extra responsibility as opening bowlers struggled to maintain a constant good line against the combination. A belligerent and hard hitting batsman strong on his legside Keith’s technique was simple; stood upright with bat slightly backlifted he would move back and across blocking anything straight but, playing late, picked off anything drifting legward or, as bowlers tried to adjust their line, showed a full faced bat to slap through the covers any deliveries slanted too far on his offside. As his innings progressed the block would become a push-drive back past the bowler.

In his first season in his new role he accumulated 576 runs at an average of 27.42. In his ten seasons with the Club he passed 500 runs in a season a remarkable five times with a best in 1989 of 916 (av. 32.71) in which same year he won for a second occasion, outright this time, the Founders’ Trophy Player of the Year.

Elected captain for 1988 and 1989 if he was not a great strategist he certainly led from the front and by example being the leading runscorer for both seasons and taking an impressive 22 (4 as wicket-keeper) and 19 catches respectively.

Although always a scorer of big fifties a century had eluded him until 1991 when at the age of forty-three he scored 108 not out against Petts Wood in the last game of the season after having been disappointingly dismissed on 90 the week before. The following 1992 season saw him participate in three century partnerships with John Heinson, two of them undefeated taking the Club to ten wicket victories, 141 * v Carlton and 127* v the ever strong Met Police. The third was another 141 also against the Met Police in the return fixture a month after their undefeated stand (making it 268 before they could be parted). In all his career it is perhaps surprising that he appeared in only six century partnerships (five of them with his opening partner, John Heinson) but he could so dominate an innings that those batting with him often found little opportunity to contribute.

After such a prolific past Keith struggled in 1993 and at the aged of forty-five conceded that the game was up and hung up his boots without completing the season. In all he scored 4,722 runs (average 24.09) with 1 century and 25 fifties, took 9 wickets and 86 catches including 4 as a stand-in wicket-keeper.

A career fireman, shift work had affected his commitment to club cricket in his early years and he had never settled with any Club for more than a season or two. However, throughout, he played mid – week for the London Fire Brigade at their Mottingham ground.

He had joined the fire service at East Ham in 1968 and served at several other stations over time. Early on he received a commendation when he rescued four children from a fire. Following the notorious fire at King’s Cross Tube Station in 1987 Keith was to join and ultimately lead a special unit based in Lambeth to report on and improve fire prevention and  safety at all London’s underground stations. He achieved the rank of Assistant Divisional Officer and retired in 1998 after a maximum thirty years’ service.

Keith met Christine in 1992 had a daughter Krystal in 1995 before marrying in 1997. Following retirement Keith and Christine moved to Tibenham, Norfolk in December 1998 after the birth of a son, Alexander in Sept 1998.

While a fireman, Keith had pursued his passion for the restoration of antique furniture; an interest that was eventually to provide him with an alternative livelihood following retirement from the fire brigade.

Apart from cricket, Keith had played some football as a young man and remained a keen supporter of Charlton Athletic.

Sadly, he leaves a widow Christine and two teenage children and is also survived by his parents, Ken and Janet and a younger brother Ian.  

 

CAREER RECORD

Year	Mts	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Av’ge	100	50	Cts	Ovrs	Mn	Runs	Wkt	Av’ge	5wi
1984	14	13	1	290	63	24.16	–	2	6	2.3	0	17	2		–
1985	22	22	1	576	73	27.42	–	3	11	3	0	21	0		–
1986	28	28	2	535	60*	20.57	–	3	5	6	1	33	0		–
1987	21	20	0	316	69	15.80	–	2	7	15	1	61	3		–
1988	36	36	5	630	80*	20.32	–	2	18	37.1	5	193	4	48.25	–
1989	32	32	4	916	70	32.71	–	7	19						–
1990	21	20	0	401	70	20.05	–	1	6						–
1991	19	19	2	526	108*	30.94	1	2	2						–
1992	17	17	3	449	90	32.07	–	3	7						–
1993	7	7	0	83	30	11.85	–	–	1						–
Total	217	214	18	4722	108*	24.09	1	25	82	63.4	7	325	9	36.11	–

INDIVIDUAL SCORES OVER FIFTY

108*     v. Petts Wood                            22/09/1991

90         Falconwood                                15/09/1991

90         Met. Police                                 25/07/1992

84*       Carlton                                      12/09/1992

80*       Lower Halstow                            10/07/1987

73         Coney Hall                                 10/08/1985

70         Old Colfeians                             04/06/1989

70         Lower Halstow                            16/07/1989

70         Shoreham                                 06/05/1990

69         VCD Elmstead                            30/05/1987

68         Highbury Fields                          03/09/1989

63         Clapham Old Xaverians               30/06/1984

63         Red Dogs                                  05/08/1989

60*       Christchurch Institute                  10/05/1986

60         Coney Hall                                 09/08/1986

59*       Addington                                  08/09/1991

59*       Met. Police                                 25/06/1992

59         City of London Poly                     22/07/1989

58         Christchurch Inst                                    15/07/1989

55         Swanscombe & Greenhithe          13/07/1985

55         City of London Poly                     13/05/1989

53         Basildon                                                29/09/1985

53         Borstal                                      07/08/1987

52         Vine                                          18/09/1988

51         LESSA                                       29/09/1984

51         Lower Halstow                            21/09/1986

STANDS OVER FIFTY

1          141*     K.Bishop 84*     & J.Heinson 49*             Carlton                          12-Sep-1992

1          141       J.Heinson 56*    & K.Bishop  90               Met.Police                      25-Jul-1992

2          137*     J.Heinson 76*    & K.Bishop 80*              Lower Halstow                10-Jul-1988

1          127*     K.Bishop 59*     & J.Heinson 53*             Met.Police                      25-Jun-1992

3          111       K.Bishop 36*      & J.Connell 75                Granby                          18-Jun-1988

1          111       K.Bishop 108*    & J.Heinson 43               Petts Wood                    22-Sep-1991

2          98        K.Bishop 60*     & A.Haylock 59              Christ Church Inst.         10-May-1986

1          93        K.Bishop 58       & D.Johnson 27*           Christ Church Inst.         15-Jul-1989

5          89        K.Bishop 46        & K.Finch 36                  India & Millwall               17-Aug-1991

4          86        K.Bishop 70       & J.Heinson 33*             Lower Halstow                16-Jul-1989

4          79*      A.Panchasara 64*&  K.Bishop 44*          Christ Church Inst.         24-Sep-1989

2          79        K.Bishop 70       & D.Johnson 39              Shoreham                     6-May-1990

2          78        K.Bishop 108*    & D.Barlow 29               Petts Wood                    22-Sep-1991

4          76        K.Bishop 63       & A.Haylock 47              Clapham O.Xaver’          30-Jun-1984

2          75        K.Bishop 48       & A.Haylock 30              Eynsford                            26-Apr-1986

4          73        K.Bishop 55       & M.Mullens 20             City of London Poly       13-May-1989

2          70*      J.Duffell  31*       & K.Bishop 40*             Sherwood                      1-Jul-1984

1          69        A.Haylock 34     & K.Bishop  73               Coney Hall                     10-Aug-1985

4          69        C.Shears 58       &  K.Bishop 44*             Crockenhill                    2-Jul-1988

2          68        J.Connell 69*     & K.Bishop 60                Coney Hall                     9-Aug-1986

2          68        K.Bishop 35       & K.Secrett  35              Christ Church Inst.         15-Aug-1987

1          66        K.Bishop 29       & A.Haylock 105             Irving                            29-Jun-1985

2          66        S.Walsh 24         & K.Bishop 52                Vine                              18-Sep-1988

2          66        K.Bishop 59       & J.Connell 19                C.O.L.P.                         22-Jul-1989

2          63        K.Bishop 40       & A.Haylock 26              LESSA                           21-Sep-1985

2          63        K.Bishop 38       & J.Connell 54                Phoenix                         17-Jun-1989

2          61        K.Bishop 73       & J.Connell 67                Coney Hall                     10-Aug-1985

2          61        J.Heinson 90*    & K.Bishop 41                Metrogas                       17-Jun-1990

4          60        J.Connell 17       & K.Bishop  44               Marcus                          20-Aug-1988

2          59        R.Tull    33         & K.Bishop 70                Old Colfeians                 4-Jun-1989

1          58        K.Bishop 20       & J.Waddell  41              Charlands                      24-Jun-1987

2          58        K.Bishop 53       & K.Secrett  17              Borstal                          9-Aug-1987

2          56        J.Duffell  17         & K.Bishop 32               Crayford                        5-May-1990

4          56        A.Littlechild 20   & K.Bishop  40               Crayford/Dartford      20-Jun-1992

4          55        K.Bishop 38       & S.Walsh 29                 Granby                          21-May-1988

4          52        A.Newman 20    & K.Bishop  59*             Addington                    8-Sep-1991

2          52        K.Bishop 24       & J.Duffell 21                 Selkent                         23-Aug-1986

2          50        J.Heinson 45*    & K.Bishop 30                Ex Blues                       15-May-1988

1          50        K.Bishop 90       &  A.Newman 17            Falconwood                    15-Sep-1991