By his early teens Stevenson was a promising rugby player while also spending much spare time at Carlton’s cricket ground.

After qualifying as a doctor, Stevenson specialised lifelong as a dental surgeon, a workstyle easier to combine with a busy amateur sporting life.

[14] In consequence, along with two other Carlton players he was selected to play for the Scotland hockey team in the 1908 Olympics, held in London.

[11] The hockey nations in these Games, the fourth Olympics in modern times, were Scotland, England, Ireland, Wales, Germany and France.

[15] Between the 1908 Games and World War I, when much sport was temporarily suspended, Stevenson and the Carlton Hockey Club enjoyed two more very successful seasons.

[14] Stevenson became Captain of Edinburgh’s Carlton Cricket Club’s First XI from 1902 until the suspension of sporting activities during World War I.

[16] Stevenson’s writings convey that he revelled in colourful, signature styles of cricket which captured spectators’ attention.

[17] Early in his career, when batting, he would snatch daring, risky extra runs if he sensed indolence in the opposing fielders or signs that they might bungle their throws or catches.

[19] Primarily a bowler, Stevenson prided himself on a knack for surprisingly often taking a wicket with his very first ball of a match [20] and for uncanny luck with the captains’ coin toss at the start of a game.

Two-thirds of the book comprises Carlton history during Stevenson’s era interspersed with personal memoirs and comments on issues in cricket.

[7] One distinctive feature is the book’s compilation of detailed facts and figures about matches and excerpts from newspaper reports to record an era in Scottish cricket which otherwise is not well covered.

Some of these concern internationally famous cricketers whom Stevenson engaged to play on occasion for Carlton, like the England Team bowler S.F.

[24] Yet another element was Stevenson’s attention, when Club Secretary, to promoting enjoyment and conviviality among spectators and players alike.

[25] Stevenson organised a series of imaginative “Grand Fancy Fair and Carnival” events to raise funds to buy Carlton’s leafy, much-admired cricket ground[26] in Grange, Edinburgh with its view of Edinburgh’s landmark hill, Arthur’s Seat.

[27] During his annual cricket tours in the Scottish Highlands, Stevenson would systematically promote exuberant excursions for his team and their entourage.

[28] A contemporary illustrated description of the 1927 Northern Tour and Stevenson’s characteristic Scottish style of joie de vivre is preserved on the Carlton Club website.