AFTER 15 minutes rapid fire bonhomie from Henry Blofeld, you feel like you've been hit by a truck.

Appropriate really, since it was a lorry that ended the cricket playing career of arguably the most distinctive voice of Radio Four's Test Match Special commentary team.

The year was 1957, and the young Blowers had already scored a century for the Public Schools XI, when the wagon sought him out as he crossed the road.

"I was in hospital for a long time, old boy, and I was never really the same player again, although afterwards I did score a first-class hundred at Lord's for Cambridge University against the MCC."

Which would have been good enough for most people.

Not for him though, and in the late 60s, Henry Blofeld was recruited for the BBC's radio cricket coverage.

"I've always had the gift of the gab and apparently I've got the sort of voice people don't find too bad."

It is certainly the sort of voice you recognise, although I put my foot in it when I asked whether his name Blofeld had any South African connections.

"Good God, no, old boy!

"My family have owned their estates in Norfolk since 1520. I think they came over with the Vikings and there are probably some German links too. But South Africa? Definitely not."

Since neither the Vikings nor the Germans have been conspicuously good at cricket, Henry has done rather well for himself in that respect and acquired a rollicking good public school accent in the process.

He was educated at Eton, so no surprise there, and when he scored his hundred for the Public Schools side, he was only the third student to do so, behind Peter May and Colin Cowdrey, which put him in class company and illustrated his potential.

But it was not to be and since then, the Blofeld life has been rich and varied. One he will talk about during An Evening with Blowers at Malvern Theatres on the evening of Saturday, April 20.

Which was what this interview was all about.

However, I made my second mistake by thinking the chat will be mainly about cricket.

"Who told you that?" boomed the voice down the phone.

I replied it was a natural assumption, buttressed by the pre-event publicity, which refers to "an evening that weaves between the stumps and wickets of a quintessentially English pastime".

Stumps and wickets equal cricket in my book.

"Oh God, it's much more than that. It's about my whole life and times, old boy.

"Tales about the people I've met and friends I've made. There's the lovely Clive Dunn and George Shearing, the blind pianist.

"I knew Ian Fleming well. Where do you think his character Blofeld came from?

"And I was a great admirer of Noel Coward.

"There are so many, old chap."

Despite his assertions to the contrary, I gathered from a natter with his PR company that he does talk about cricket.

After all, someone who did his first Test Match Special broadcast in 1971 and has done hundreds, if not thousands, since, can hardly fail to.

Likewise, among his heroes are Dennis Compton, Bill Edrich and Keith Miller, none of whom was famous for acting or musical talents.

But try as I might, Blowers wouldn't relate one tale, cricket or otherwise, as a taster of what is to come.

"I can't divulge my best stories to you. You'll have to be there on the night - and come and have a glass of wine with me afterwards, will you? I'll be in the foyer signing copies of my books."

At that point his mobile phone began to ring. "Sorry, old boy. Bloody phone's going. Got to dash."

Somewhere along the way, I just hope he paused for breath.

n An Evening with Blowers is at Malvern Theatres on Saturday, April 20. Tickets £14-£12. Box office 01684 892277.