Obituaries in 1953

BAKER, MR. REGINALD LESLIE, who died at Hollywood, California, on December 2, aged 69, was known as the greatest all-round athlete produced by Australia. He got his Blue at Sydney University for cricket and also for football, athletics and rowing. He took part in twenty-six different sports, representing Australia at Rugby football and taking part in international polo. Snowy Baker, as he was generally known, fought and lost to the late J. W. H. T. Douglas, who became captain of the England cricket team, for the Olympic middle-weight boxing championship in London in 1908. Though born in Sydney he spent most of his life in America.

BEAUMONT, MR. OLIVER HUGH WALLACE, who died in Guy's Hospital on December 28, aged 47, became Sporting Editor of The Times after the second Great War and held that position until his death. Always a great cricket enthusiast, he did not attain distinction at the game either at Marlborough or when going to Pembroke College, Cambridge, but throughout his journalistic career of twenty years he wrote upon it both interestingly and with authority. The only child of Sir John Beaumont, P.C., formerly Chief Justice of Bombay, he was, by reason of his unassuming manner and quiet sense of humour, immensely popular in Fleet Street.

BELL, MR. RICHARD M., who died on June 11, aged 79, was a prominent slow off-break bowler for Sutton ( Surrey) for more than forty years. Born in Cumberland on New Year's Day, 1874, he was educated at Melbourne Grammar School and at The Leys School, where he was in the elevens of 1891 and 1892. He captained Surrey Second Xl in 1906; played for Dr. W. G. Grace's London County side, and in 1909 went to Egypt as a member of the M.C.C. team led by Viscount Brackley. Three times he took all ten wickets in an innings and on eight occasions performed the hat-trick.

BENNETT, CAPTAIN RICHARD ALEXANDER, who died on July 16, aged 78, played in a number of games for Hampshire over the turn of the century, being contemporary with such players as E. M. Sprot, Capt. E. G. Wynyard and Major R. M. Poore. A cricketer of more than average ability, he was a steady bat and excellent wicket-keeper. He did not find a place in the eleven at Eton, but played much club cricket for Eton Ramblers and Hampshire Hogs. In 1897 he toured America with Capt. P. F. (now Sir Pelham) Warner's team, which included G. L. Jessop, the mighty Gloucestershire hitter, and in 1902 led a team of amateurs which toured the West Indies. This side was got together by H. D. G. Leveson Gower, and it was expected that either he or Lord Hawke would be captain, but neither could make the trip. From 1910 he played for Thornbury Castle C.C. and continued after the amalgamation with Thornbury C.C. Chairman of Thornbury for many years, he was President from 1948 till his death, and was also a member of M.C.C. and Gloucestershire Gipsies.

BOISSIER, MR. ARTHUR PAUL, who died in the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary on October 2, aged 73, was in the Leatherhead School XI from 1898 to 1900. At Oxford, he played in several trial matches without getting a Blue, though he played in the Association football team against Cambridge in 1904. At one time tutor at the Royal Naval College, Osborne, he was a master and afterwards headmaster at Harrow.

BOLTON, MR. LOUIS HAMILTON, who died suddenly aboard the s.s. Chusan on September 2, aged 69, was a member of the Rugby Xl of 1901 and 1902. From 1941 to 1946 he was vice-chairman of the Port of London Authority.

BRANN, MR. WILLIAM HENRY, who died at Port Elizabeth on September 22, aged 54, played as a batsman for Eastern Province from 1920 to 1934, scoring 609 runs, average 25.37, in Currie Cup games, with a highest score of 97. In 1922-23 he played for South Africa in three Test matches against England, and in the first of these, at Johannesburg, when scoring 50 in the second innings, helped H. W. Taylor in a fifth-wicket partnership of 98 which did a lot towards winning the match.

BRIDGMAN, MR. HENRY H. M., who died at Torrensville, South Australia, on December 3, aged 63, was a member of the Australian Board of Control. Born on February 1, 1890, he played as a left-handed batsmen for South Australia, scoring 252 runs, average 15.75, with 65 his highest innings.

BROCKLEBANK, SIR THOMAS AUBREY LAWLES, fourth Baronet, who died suddenly at Ruthin, North Wales, aged 53, played in the Eton team of 1917, scoring 6 and 64 not out against Harrow. He represented the sixth generation of his family with Liverpool shipping interests. A keen follower of Association football, he was chairman and later president of Chester F.C.

BUSBY, MR. ALAN, who died at Combe, Oxfordshire, on February 25, aged 81, played cricket as a batsman and slow bowler for Combe village team for over forty years. commencing at the age of fourteen.

BUXTON, LIEUT.-COLONEL ROBERT VERE, who died on October 1, aged 70, was in the Eton XI of 1902, scoring 3 and 74 against Harrow. At Oxford he received his Blue in 1906 and in the match with Cambridge scored 33 and 28. In 1906 and 1907 he played in a few games for Middlesex. From 1945 he was deputy chairman of Martins Bank.

CHARLESWORTH, CROWTHER, who died on June 15, aged 76, was a popular figure in the Warwickshire XI from 1898 till 1921. In that period he scored 14,309 runs for the county, average 23.61, and as a fast bowler took 295 wickets. A brilliant batsman specially strong in driving, he hit fifteen centuries, the highest being 216, scored out of 338 in three hours forty minutes, against Derbyshire at Blackwell in 1910, when he headed the Warwickshire averages. In 1914 he played a dashing innings at Dewsbury, making 206 out of 283 in less than four hours from a Yorkshire attack including such bowlers as G. H. Hirst, M. W. Booth, W. Rhodes and A. Drake. Born at Swinton, Lancashire, on February 12, 1877, Charlesworth was a member of the team who, under F. R. Foster, first won the County Championship for Warwickshire in 1911. His benefit match in 1920 realised £1,041, a sum which remained a Wawickshire record till W. E. Hollies received £4,869 in 1945.

CHARLTON, MR. SIDNEY FORBES, who died on October 2, aged 88, was in the Cranleigh XI from 1880 to 1882 and also played football for the School. Born on January 18, 1865, he was, at the age of fifteen, present at the First Test Match at The Oval between England and Australia in 1880. A fast if somewhat erratic bowler and steady batsman, he achieved little at school beyond scoring a century in a house match. In 1885, however, when playing in an inter-Banks match at Catford, he followed an innings of 67 not out by bowling nine of the opposing team and catching No. 10 off the other bowler. When going to live at Epsom in 1891, he played for the Town for several years under G. H. Longman, the old Cambridge captain. An enthusiastic reader of Wisden, he presented many volumes to his old school.

CLARK, MR. EDWIN, who died at Rotherham in April, aged 66, played cricket for Rotherham St. Peter's for thirty years, taking 1,445 wickets, average 5.81, scoring over 5,400 runs and holding more than 200 catches. He also played football for Rotherham County.

CLARKE, MAJOR A. C. K. S., who died in Nairn Hospital on November 25, captained Nairn County C.C. from 1923 to 1946 and led the side to nine League Championships. In 1947 he became President of the North of Scotland Cricket Association. Educated at Glenalmond, he served in the South African War and the first Great War, being wounded in France, awarded the M.C. and twice mentioned in dispatches.

COOTE, ERNEST, who died at Cambridge in August, aged 72, was at one time private coach to the great K. S. Ranjitsinghji. Coote retired from the post of groundman at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, in 1952.

CROMMELIN-BROWN, MR. JOHN LOUIS, who died suddenly at Minehead, Somerset, on September 11, was in the Winchester XI's of 1906 and 1907. At Trinity College, Cambridge, he participated in Freshmen's and Seniors matches without gaining a Blue. From 1922 to 1926 he appeared irregularly for Derbyshire, for whom he was an honorary secretary from 1945 to 1949. He also played Association football for the Corinthians, and was a fine billiards player. Between 1911 and 1949 he was assistant master and house master at Repton, where he was in charge of cricket for many years.

DOUGLAS, COLONEL ARCHIBALD PHILIP, who died at Taunton on January 24, aged 85, was one of four brothers--the others were James and Robert Noel, both Cambridge Blues, and Captain Sholto--who played for Middlesex. In the Dulwich XI from 1882 to 1884, he headed the batting averages in the last season, and did the same at Woolwich the next two years. On a few occasions in 1886 and 1887 he assisted Surrey, and afterwards appeared for Middlesex, the county of his birth. He also played much military cricket in India. During the first Great War, when serving as Colonel of Royal Artillery (Indian Army), he was mentioned in dispatches and awarded the C.M.G. and the Serbian Order of the White Eagle (Fourth Class).

DUFF, MR. WILLIAM DICK, who died at Johannesburg on October 7, aged 63, was a leg-break and googly bowler who played on occasion for Transvaal between 1919 and 1925. In 1924-25 he represented South Africa in two of the unofficial Test matches against the English team captained by the Hon. L. H. Tennyson.

EALAND, MR. VICTOR F., who died suddenly in Guernsey on February 28, captained Surrey 2nd XI in 1936 and in 1937 when they lost the Minor Counties Challenge match to Lancashire 2nd XI. He lost a leg some years before his death, but remained a Surrey enthusiast.

EBBISHAM, THE FIRST BARON (ROWLAND BLADES), who died in London on May 24, aged 85, was a great lover of cricket who continued active participation in the game till he was well into the seventies. As a right-arm slow bowler, he took over 100 wickets in nine successive seasons from 1930, and at the age of 70 performed the hat-trick in a match in the Isle of Wight. For many years he captained Sutton ( Surrey) and bore a prominent part in the revival of Parliamentary cricket, being captain of the Lords and Commons team. He was a member of Surrey County Club for sixty years. As Sir Rowland Blades, he was Lord Mayor of London from 1926 to 1927.

EVANS, MR. BERTRAM J. ( BILL), who died in Norwich Hospital in April, aged 63, following a bicycle accident, for twenty-five years reported cricket, boxing and football for the London Star. He covered the 1936-37 M.C.C. tour in Australia for his newspaper.

FINDLAY, MR. WILLIAM, who died at his home at Tenterden, Kent, on June 19, aged 72, following a heart attack, was Secretary of M.C.C. from 1919 to 1926 and President in 1951-52. A wicket-keeper and batsman of considerable ability, he captained Eton in 1899 and, going to Oxford, gained his Blue in 1901 and the two following years. He led the Dark Blue side who beat Cambridge by 268 runs in 1903. From 1902 he played irregularly for Lancashire till 1906, helping to win the County Championship in 1904. In first-class cricket he held a batting average of 20.28 and dismissed 157 batsmen, 132 by catches.

He began important secretarial duties in 1907, when succeeding C. W. Alcock as Secretary of Surrey. Going to Lord's as assistant to F. E. (later Sir Francis) Lacey in 1929, he became Secretary of M.C.C. in 1926, a position he held for ten years, and for which his genial, diplomatic manner and never-failing courtesy suited him admirably. During his term of office at Lord's the new Grand Stand, with the famous Father Time weather-vane, was erected. In 1937 he made one of his biggest contributions to cricket legislature when heading a Commission appointed by M.C.C. to explore the question of the difficulties of counties taking part in the County Championship and which is always referred to as The Findlay Commission.

A member of the Committee and a Trustee of M.C.C., he at one time served on the Committee of four separate county clubs, including that of Lancashire, of whom he was President in 1947 and 1948. His services to the game received recognition in the way of presentations from the Boards of Control of Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, the West Indies and India.

His calm efficiency earned him a glowing tribute from the M.C.C. President of 1929, Field Marshal Lord Plumer, who said of him: If Findlay had been a soldier, I should like to have had him on my staff.--E. E.

FISHER, LIEUT.-COLONEL JULIAN LAWRENCE, who died at King's Sutton, near Danbury, on May 1, his 76th birthday, was in the Harrow XI of 1894, when he headed the bowling averages. He served with the Royal Fusiliers in the Tibetan campaign of l904, being awarded the D.S.O. During the first Great War he was severely wounded at Gallipoli, and, three times mentioned in dispatches, became a C.M.G.

FLOQUET, MR. BERTRAM HAROLD, who died at Johannesburg on June 16, aged 69, was a punishing batsman who appeared for Transvaal from 1902 to 1913. His highest innings in the Currie Cup competition was 104 against Griqualand West at Durban in 1910-11. He was an elder brother of C. E. Floquet, who played against England in 1909.

GARRETT, MR. WILLIAM T., who died at Loughton, where he was a licensee, in February, aged 76, played as a batsman in sixteen matches for Essex between 1900 and 1903. His chief successes were achieved at the expense of Warwickshire. In 1900 at Leyton, after Essex followed-on 394 behind the Midland county's first innings total, Garrett stayed nearly four hours for a match-saving 64 not out. The following season he hit 92 at Edgbaston and 76 in the return game at Leyton. Born on January 9, 1877, he also assisted Surrey 2nd XI in 1904 and 1905.

GILLINGHAM, CANON FRANK HAY, who died on April 1, aged 77, was a great personality in the Church and on the cricket field. Born in Tokyo on September 6, 1875, he came to England when eight, gained a place in the Dulwich XI's of 1891 and 1892, and appeared with much distinction for Durham University. When ordained in 1899, he became a curate at Leyton and so qualified for Essex. During this period he showed his love of the game when making his rounds of the parish by joining in street cricket with local boys.

After a few appearances for the second eleven, he first played for the Essex Championship side in 1903, and he appeared whenever his clerical duties permitted till 1928. Altogether he scored 9,942 runs, average 30.49, and brought off 102 catches. Tall and powerfully built, he was a strong believer in hitting the ball hard in front of the wicket, and, though the first to admit that he was not at ease against spin, he dealt firmly with bowlers of pace. His best season for the county was that of 1908, when he scored 1,033 runs, average 39.73, and hit four centuries; his highest innings was 201 against Middlesex at Lord's in 1904. He appeared three times for Gentlemen against Players, and in 1919 bore a considerable part in the defeat--their first--by an innings and 133 runs of the Australian Imperial Forces XI at the hands of the Gentlemen of England at Lord's. Gillingham scored 83 and made four catches. He was also a member of the Essex eleven who, in 1905 at Leyton, beat J. Darling's Australians by 19 runs, and he went on tour to Jamaica with the Hon. L. H. Tennyson's team in 1927.

A fine preacher who filled his churches to overflowing, he was appointed Chaplain to the King in 1939. He was also an after-dinner speaker with a wonderful sense of humour; his supremely funny anecdotes, told without the vestige of a smile, frequently convulsed listeners. As Sir Pelham Warner wrote of him in The Cricketer: Gillingham was a man with a charming individuality who exerted a powerful and beneficial influence over people of various types and characteristics. He was a very human being, kind, gentle and understanding, who was the last to condemn. No one ever came to him in trouble without going away comforted. His friends and admirers were numerous indeed.

GILLLINGHAM, REV. GEORGE WILLIAM, who died on June 11 after a ministry of fifty-two years, played cricket for Gentlemen of Worcestershire before the first World War. Though never attaining to first-class standards, he was a great cricket enthusiast who did much good work for Worcestershire. When becoming Rector of St. Martin's, Worcester, he revived and managed the Wocestershire Club and Ground matches, and in 1923 he organised a bazaar which realised £2,300 for the County Club. From 1929 he acted for some seasons as honorary secretary to Worcestershire in order that the secretary, C. F. Walters, could play for the county. During this period when, during the winter the River Severn flooded the county ground at Worcester, Gillingham swam across the ground to gain access to the Pavilion and returned with the account books. He was author of The Cardinal's Treasure, a romance of the Elizabethan age, part of the proceeds from which he devoted to the Worcestershire C.C.C. and the R.S.P.C.A. When Vicar of St. Mark's, Coventry, he was for four years tenant of a condemned public house, The Barley Mow, which he transformed into a Hooligans' Club where boxing and Bible classes went hand-in-hand.

GLENNIE, REGINALD GERARD, Canon Emeritus of York, who died at Worcester on October 24, aged 88, was educated at King's School, Canterbury and Keble College, Oxford. He played for some seasons for Staffordshire and for Yorkshire Gentlemen.

GRACE, MR. EDWARD SIDNEY HENRY, who died at his home at Cheltenham in April, aged 79, was the eldest son of Dr. E. M. Grace, a nephew of the famous Dr. W. G. Grace. E. S. H. Grace appeared with his father and W. G. in a team composed entirely of members of the Grace family.

GRANT, MR. EDWARD A., who died in January, aged 78, played for Wiltshire as a spin bowler and made two appearances for Somerset in 1899. He was born on June 16, 1874.

GRAVES, MR. PHILIP PERCIVAL, who died at Bantry, Co. Cork, on June 3, aged 77, played in the Haileybury XI's of 1894 and 1895, heading the bowling averages in the first year with 33 wickets for 11.23 runs each and being second in 1895 with 39 at a cost of 12.53 runs. For many years correspondent in the Near East of The Times, he was an acknowledged authority upon the politics of the Balkans and the Arab world.

HAYES, ERNEST GEORGE, who died at his home at Norwood on December 2--the date of the Surrey dinner to celebrate the winning of the County Championship at which he was to have been an honoured guest--aged 77, was among the finest batsmen of his day.

Born at Peckham on November 6, 1876, he first appeared for Surrey in 1896 and ended his first-class career thirty years later. Altogether he scored 27,325 runs, average 32.18, hitting 48 centuries; with leg-breaks he took over 500 wickets, and held 605 catches. His most successful season as a batsman was that of 1906 when he scored 2,309 runs, average 45.27, and reached three figures on seven occasions. The highest of his 48 centuries was 276 against Hampshire at The Oval in 1909 when he and Hobbs shared in a wonderful second wicket stand of 371. Specially strong in driving, he also pulled fearlessly and was always attractive to watch. In 1909, when a member of the Surrey team who, by five runs, inflicted upon M. A. Noble's Australians the first defeat of the tour, he made his only Test match appearance against Australia, though he toured that country with A. O. Jones's side two years previously. He played four times for England against South Africa, three when touring the Union in 1905 and the other during the 1912 Triangular Tournament. He represented Players v. Gentlemen on many occasions, being captain at The Oval in 1914.

Until the first World War, in which he served with the Sportsman's Battalion and received the M.B.E., he played regularly for Surrey, but, after re-appearing as an amateur, he left the county in 1919. Damaged hands contributed to his decision to retire. In his early days Tom Richardson and Bill Lockwood were in their prime, and fielding in the slips to these two great fast bowlers led to the curling up, because of nerves put of action by frequent bruising, of the third and little fingers of Hayes's right hand. As a consequence he for some years experienced difficulty in gripping a bat, but nevertheless in his last season for Surrey he scored 153 against Hampshire at Southampton, where he and Ducat joined in a third wicket partnership of 353 in 165 minutes.

From Surrey he went to Leicestershire as coach, taking part in matches for the Second XI with such success that, in 1926, he was persuaded to turn out for the Championship side. At the age of 50 he headed the Leicestershire averages, obtaining in seven innings 254 runs, average 36.28, and failing by one run to complete a century against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge. He returned to The Oval in 1929 as coach, a position he held till 1934, when he became a licensee at West Norwood.

HAYCOCK, DANIEL M., who died at Cambridge on February 2, aged 87, was elder brother of Tom Hayward, the Surrey and England cricketer. In his younger days a medium-pace bowler for Cambridgeshire, Dan was groundman for more than twenty-five years at Fenner's, headquarters of Cambridge University cricket and athletics.

HINE-HAYCOCK, REV. TREVITT REGINALD, who died on November 2, aged 91, was the last survivor of the Oxford University team who, under M. C. Kemp, beat W. L. Murdoch's Australian side by seven wickets at Oxford in 1884. Never before or since had Oxford won against the Australians. Born at Little Heath, Old Charlton, Kent, on December 3, 1861, he was in the Wellington XI for three years from 1878, being captain in 1880, and he gained a Blue as a steady opening batsman at Oxford in 1883 and in 1884 when he was honorary secretary. He could also keep wicket. In the University match of 1883, after Hine-Haycock and J. G. Walker scored 29 for the first wicket, Oxford collapsed on difficult turf against the bowling of C. T. Studd and C. A. Smith, losing their last nine wickets for 26. Next year Hine-Haycock, by scoring 40 and 35 not out, helped exactly to reverse a defeat by seven wickets. From 1882 to 1884 he assisted Devon, and in 1885 and 1886 played for Kent. He assisted Gentlemen v. Players at The Oval in 1884, and visited America in 1885 and 1886 as a member of E. J. Sanders's teams. He was vicar of Christ Church, Greyfriars, which was bombed during the war, and a year or so before his death was appointed senior priest-in-ordinary to the Queen.

HINGSTON, MR. ALFRED, M.B.E., J.P., who died at Totnes on June 23, aged 74, captained South Devon C.C. in his younger days and also played for Devon County.

HOLDSWORTH, MR. E. F., who died on December 6, aged 81, was for more than half a century one of the best-known personalities in Yorkshire cricket circles. An honorary life-member of the Committee of the County Club, he was for a long time senior Vice-President. A close associate of the late Lord Hawke, he captained the Second XI for many years before and after the first World War, and his efforts did much to prepare promising young players for first-class cricket.

HUGHES, MR. JOHN A., who died on February 15, aged 36, p1ayed as an all-rounder in a number of matches for Essex 2nd XI between 1949 and 1951. Youngest son of Joe Hughes, a former West Ham United goal-Keeper, he was a prominent player for Hale End C.C.

JENNER, F. D., who died on March 31, aged 59, played as a batsman for Sussex in the first three seasons after the first Great War. Meeting with little success, he could not gain a regular place in the team. His best innings was 55 at Cardiff in 1921, when Glamorgan, by 23 runs, won their first match after acquiring first-class status. Jenner and B. H. Bowley (146) put on 166 for the fourth wicket but could not save Sussex from defeat.

KAYE, LIEUT.-COLONEL HAROLD SWIFT, who died on November 6, aged 71, played for Yorkshire when a Lieutenant in 1907 and 1908, scoring 243 runs, average 10.12. Born on May 9, 1882, he was in the Harrow XI in 1899 and 1900. His 60 in the Harrow first innings helped considerably towards a victory by one wicket over Eton in 1900. In the second innings he was the second victim in a hat-trick performed by the Eton right-arm slow bowler, E. G. Whateley, whom Kaye had twice dismissed. He was awarded the D.S.C. and M.C. during the first Great War, when he rose to the command of the 4th K.O.Y.L.I. and was five times mentioned in dispatches.

KILLICK, THE REVEREND EDGAR THOMAS, who died while taking part in a cricket match between the diocesan clergy of St. Albans and Coventry at Northampton on May 18, aged 46, played for Cambridge University, Middlesex and England. He first showed his ability as a sportsman while at St. Paul's School, where he won his colours as a Rugby three-quarter and captained the cricket XI. In 1925 his batting average was 104.44, and the following summer he led the Public Schools fifteen against the Australians at Lord's.

H. L. Collins, the Australian captain, objected to the Schools fielding fifteen players and Killick had the unenviable duty of deciding which four had to leave the field. Happily, Collins relented and the four boys returned. Killick made 31 on a difficult pitch.

Everyone predicted that he would be an automatic choice as a Freshman for the 1927 Cambridge XI, but for some reason he failed to do himself justice and did not obtain his Blue that year. For a time during the early part of the next season it looked as if the distinction might again elude him, but an innings of 82 for Middlesex against Essex ensured him a further trial. He seized the opportunity, taking 100 off the Surrey bowlers at The Oval and 161 from the Sussex attack at Hove. He made another hundred for Cambridge v. M.C.C. at Lord's and in the' Varsity Match hit 74 and 20.

One of his finest innings was the 206 he scored for Middlesex against Warwickshire in 1931, his opening stand with G. T. S. Stevens producing 277 runs. Curiously, this was the only time he played for the county that season. Moreover, play was possible only on the first day because of rain. He twice played for England against South Africa in 1929, going in first with H. Sutcliffe, but his appearances in first-class cricket subsequently became more infrequent because of his work. Nevertheless, he continued to play as often as possible in club matches. E. Hendren once described Killick as the prettiest forward player since Lionel Palairet. Certainly, there was grace in his stroke-play and few batsmen executed the off-drive and square-cut with such ease of movement. As a fieldsman he delighted onlookers by his anticipation, swift running and clean picking up of the ball in the deep.

Perhaps it was not altogether surprising that he showed a natural aptitude for games, for he came from a sporting family. A brother, G. S. Killick, represented Great Britain at rowing in the Olympic Games. Another brother was a wing three-quarter, and Stanley, the youngest, also played Rugby and cricket. E. T. Killick was for a time chaplain at Harrow School. Later he became rector of Willian, near Letchworth. During the war he went to West Africa as Senior Padre (Church of England) of the R.A.F. West Africa Command. He had been Vicar of Bishop's Stortford since 1946.

KIRK, MR. LIONEL, who died in Nottingham on February 27, aged 68, was Chairman of Nottinghamshire C.C.C. A member of the Committee for thirty years, he was President of the County Club in 1951. Born on November 1, 1884, he captained the 2nd XI for several years, and also led the Championship side on occasion between 1920 and 1929. He captained Nottinghamshire in the sensational match at Swansea in 1927 when, needing only to draw with Glamorgan to make certain of carrying on the County Championship, they collapsed on rain-damaged turf against the bowling of Mercer and Ryan and, all out for 61, suffered defeat by an innings and 81 runs. This gave Lancashire the title. A noted Rugby footballer, Kirk once played in-an England International Trial match.

KUYS, MR. FREDERICK, who died at Oudtshoorn, Cape Province, on September 12, aged 84, played in one Test match for South Africa against England in 1898-99. During the last few seasons before the South African War he appeared an as all-rounder for Western Province.

MACKAY, MR. JAMES RAINEY MUNRO, who died in Walcha Hospital, New South Wales, on June 13, aged 71, was one of Australia's greatest cricketing sons. Only a magnificent constitution enabled him to live so long, for his doctor told him fifteen years before that he might pass away at any time. Born on September 9, 1881, he never came to England, and so was not so well known as some of the Australians who did. Yet he batted brilliantly for New South Wales in Inter-State games, and in 1905-6 was wonderfully successful. In successive innings he hit 90 v. South Australia, 194 v. Victoria, 105 and 102 not out v. South Australia, 18 and 50 v. Victoria. When the 1905 Australian team returned from England, they played a match for Jim Kelly's benefit against New South Wales, for whom MacKay scored 4 and 136. Against Queensland, not then in the Sheffield Shield tournament, he made 203.

Wisden of 1907 stated of this performance: The sensation of the season was the wonderful batting of J. R. M. MacKay ... who scored in six innings, once not out, 559 runs. In face of such form it would seem that a great mistake was committed in not bringing him to England in 1905... It was the general opinion that, for brilliancy, his batting has never been surpassed in Australia except by Trumper.

Shortly after, MacKay accepted a lucrative position in Johannesburg and was very successful in South African cricket. The question arose as to whether he should be a candidate for selection in the 1907 South African team to tour England, but it was felt that he had not lived lone enough in the Union to qualify. This was a great disappointment to him, for he thus had the hard luck of just missing two visits to the Mother Country. He was known by the nick-name of Sunny Jim, a tribute to his disposition on and off the cricket field.--G. A. B.

MILLER-HALLETT, MR. ALEXANDER, for ten successive years until 1946 President of Sussex, died at Brighton on February 14, aged 97. His cricketing connections with Sussex went back as far as 1866, and in the years before the second Great War he did much to increase the membership of the county club. Known as The Grand Old Man of Sussex Cricket, he was also a celebrated breeder of Jersey cattle. While he was watching cricket nothing else mattered. Once during a war-time match at Hove a German aircraft dropped a bomb on the ground. Without moving from his seat, Miller-Hallett remarked to his neighbour: Fancy disturbing our game like that!

MORGAN-OWEN, MR. HUGH, who died at Repton on March 6, aged 71, was in the Shrewsbury XI's of 1899 and 1900, heading the bowling averages in the second year with 30 wickets, average 15.63. At Oxford he gained most fame as an Association football centre or inside forward, playing against Cambridge in four successive seasons from 1901, as captain in 1904. Between 1901 and 1907 he made six International appearances for Wales, and for some years captained the Corinthians and Casuals. He was at one time in the Nigerian Civil Service.

NEPEAN, SIR CHARLES EVAN MOLYNEUX YORKE, 5th Baronet, who died at Lyme Regis on January 1, aged 85, was a member of the Winchester Xl of 1885. He served in the Royal Berkshire Regiment, retiring with the honorary rank of Major.

PARTON, MR. CYRIL JOHN, who died at Epsom on November 22, aged 73, was in the Rugby XI's of 1898 and 1899, scoring 78 against Marlborough at Lord's in the first year. At Oxford he took part in Freshmen's and Seniors matches, but did not gain a Blue. He played cricket till he was 56. At the time of his death he was Senior and Chief Registrar in Bankruptcy.

PEACOCK, MR. HERBERT ST. GEORGE, who died at Ipswich on February 16, aged 81, was in the Eton XI of 1891. Eton lost the match with Harrow by seven wickets, but they laboured under considerable handicap. R. C. Norman, the captain, who suffered concussion when colliding with another player during the game with Winchester, was ordered home by his doctor and so could not bat in the second innings, and H. A. Arkwright was scarcely fit to play. Peacock was a Judge of the Sudan High Court from 1908 to 1926.

PEARSE, MR. CHARLES ORMEROD CATO, who died at Durban on May 7, aged 68, was a member of the South African touring team in Australia in 1910-11, taking part in three Test matches, and narrowly missed selection for the tour of England in 1912. A stylish batsman and useful change bowler, he played at intervals for Natal from 1905 to 1924.

PEPALL, G., who died on January 8, aged 76, played occasionally for Gloucestershire when Dr. W. G. Grace was at his best. Pepall, a fast bowler, achieved his best performance at Bristol in 1896 when he took five Yorkshire wickets for 63 runs. His victims included F. S. Jackson, J. T. Brown, R. Moorhouse and B. Wainwright.

PIENAAR, MR. ANDRIES JACOBUS, who died at Cape Town on October 12, had been a member of the Board of the Control of the South African Cricket Association since 1933, and was President of the Association from 1947 to 1949. Though never a player of note, Sport Pienaar was one of the best-loved and most capable administrators of sport in South Africa. He was for a long time President of the South African Rugby Football Board and visited England during the tour of the Springboks in l951-52.

REESE, MR. DANIEL, who died at Christchurch on June 12, aged 74, was one of the best-known cricketers and businessmen in New Zealand. First playing for Canterbury in 1895, when 16, he visited Australia in 1898-99 with the first touring team to leave New Zealand, and for fourteen years from 1907 he was captain of Canterbury and of New Zealand. In all first-class matches he scored as a forcing left-handed batsman 3,186 runs and with slow-medium bowling took 196 wickets. He went as a draughtsman to Australia in 1900 and during three years there played for Melbourne. In 1903, when visiting England, he took part in four matches with Dr. W. G. Grace for London County, and in 1906 appeared eight times for Essex, scoring 70 and 20 in the game with the West Indies. His long playing career ended in 1921, to which point he was probably the best left-handed batsman produced by New Zealand. He afterwards served as member of the Management Committee and President of the New Zealand Cricket Council.

SCOTT, THE HON. SIR ERNEST STOWELL, who died at Encombe, Dorset, on November 6, aged 81, was in the 1891 Winchester XI who beat Eton by five wickets. Appointed M.V.O. in 1906, he became a K.C.M.G. in 1931. In the diplomatic service for thirty years, he was at one time Minister Plenipotentiary to Abyssinia and to Uruguay.

SHEPPARD, MR. R. A., who died on January 28, aged 83, played for Surrey as an all-rounder in two seasons at the start of the century. In nine matches in 1904 he scored 316 runs, average 24.30, his highest innings being 82 against Derbyshire at Derby, and with slow bowling took 16 wickets, average 27.93. He was educated at Whitgift.

TANDY, BRIGADIER-GENERAL ERNEST NAPPER, who died on May 6, aged 74, was in the Wellington XI of 1896. His Army services earned him the D.S.O. and C.M.G.

TARILTON, MR. P. H. ( TIM), who died at Kingston, Jamaica, in February, aged 68, was a member of the West Indies team who toured England under the captaincy of H. B. G. Austin in 1923. In that year Tarilton, a strong-driving batsman, scored 554 runs, average 21.30, with 109 not out against Nottinghamshire his best innings. He was the first West Indies batsman to put together an innings of over 300, hitting 304 not out against Trinidad in the first first-class match played in the Caribbean Islands following the first World War. In partnership with G. Challenor in 1927 he scored 292 against Trinidad, which remained a record for the first wicket in West Indies cricket till A. Rae and J. Stollmeyer hit 355 from the Sussex bowling at Hove in 1950. In all first-class cricket Tarilton scored 2,742 runs, average 39.17.

TATE, EDWARD, who died on January 4, aged 75, served Malvern College for fifty years as cricket professional and manager of the college store. Known affectionally to Malvernians, both masters and boys, as Father, he played as a medium-pace bowler for Hampshire from 1898 to 1902. In 1898, when taking 35 wickets for 27.94 runs each, he enjoyed the satisfaction of dismissing five such batsmen as J. T. Brown, J. Tunnicliffe, F. S. Jackson, D. Denton and Lord Hawke for 83 runs in the Yorkshire first innings at Huddersfield. Later in the same season, when taking eight Somerset wickets for 51 runs on a crumbling pitch at Bournemouth, he bore the leading part in a win by nine runs for Hampshire, who were 115 behind on the first innings. The last seven of these wickets fell to him for 25 runs. Tate also appeared for Devon before and after the first World War, in which he served with the Royal Artillery in France.

THORPE, MR. CHARLES, who died on May 5, aged 70, played as a batsman in several matches for Northamptonshire shortly before the first World War.

VENN, MR. W. HORACE, who died in hospital at Coventry on November 23, aged 61, appeared as opening batsman for Warwickshire from 1919 to 1922. Strong in defence, with a stiff fore-arm forcing stroke, he scored most of his runs in front of the wicket. Born on July 4. 1892, be played 32 innings for the county in 1920, scoring 553 runs, average 17.28, his highest innings being 115 in two hours and a half against Kent at Catford.

WADHAM, MIDSHIPMAN NICHOLAS CHARLES, R.N.V.R., who was killed on January 16, aged 19, when his naval training plane crashed on Broadlaw Hill, Peeblesshire, played in the Eton XI of 1949 and the two following seasons. Under his captaincy Eton went through the summer of 1951 unbeaten in public school matches. Wadham headed the bowling averages that year. Besides being a steady medium-paced bowler and brilliant fieldsman, he was a forcing batsman, and in the 1950 game with Harrow he scored 87 and 18. He also appeared for the Royal Navy and for Combined Services. He was above the average at Fives, and at Association football played for old Etonians in the Arthur Dunn Cup final of 1952.

WALKER, REV. JOHN SPENCER MULLINS, who died at Hove on November 19 in his 101st year, played in the Lancing cricket XI's of 1870 to 1872 and in the Association football teams of 1867 to 1872. Known as The Father of Sussex Football, he was one of a committee of three boys who in 1871 gave the Association code a trial in place of a game played only at Lancing. He was the oldest living old boy of the school. He played for Clapham Rovers in the F. A. Cup Semi-final at Kennington Oval in 1874, when four spectators saw the victory of Oxford University by 1-0, and he became the first President of the Sueesx F.A. in 1881. For thirteen years after graduating at Oxford he was assistant master at Lancing, and later spent thirty years as Vicar of Amport St. Mary, Hampshire, before retiring to Hove in 1935.

WASS, TOM, who died at Sutton-in-Ashfield on October 27, aged 79, was on his day one of the most effective bowlers of his time. Born in Sutton-in-Ashfield, a village once the most productive nursery for Nottinghamshire cricketers, on December 26, 1873, he gained an early reputation as a fast bowler in local cricket. Following a spell as professional with Edinburgh Academicals he joined Liverpool C.C., and, becoming qualified by residence for Lancashire, was offered a place on the staff at Old Trafford. This Wass, originally a miner, declined, and instead gave his services to his native county, for whom he made a first-class debut in 1897. Not till the following season, however, did his county career really begin, and thereafter he progressed from strength to strength.

Ability to make the ball turn from leg rendered him specially dangerous to batsmen, and no bowler of his pace was a greater menace on slow pitches. Before he gave up first-class cricket in 1920 he took 1,679 wickets, a Nottinghamshire record. In 1907 he played a leading part in helping Nottinghamshire to carry off the County Championship without suffering defeat, dismissing in that season 163 batsmen at a cost of 14.28 runs each. It was remarkable that in view of his many successes Topsy Wass was never chosen for England, but he appeared three times for Players against Gentlemen, at Lord's in 1908 and at The Oval in 1904 and 1908.

Twice he took sixteen wickets in a match, and on each occasion performed the feat in the course of a single day. The first was against Lancashire at Liverpool in 1901, when his figures were eight for 25 and eight for 44; the second against Essex at Trent Bridge in 1908, his analyses then being eight for 29 and eight for 74. In the first innings of Essex he at one time took six wickets for nine runs, including the hat-trick. Twice, against Surrey at The Oval in 1902 (for 91 runs) and, against Derbyshire at Blackwell in 1911 (for 67 runs) he dismissed nine batsmen in an innings, and he took eight wickets in an innings no fewer than sixteen times. The best of these latter performances was eight for 13 at the expense of Derbyshire at Welbeck in 1901. At Lord's in 1907 he gained the remarkable analysis of six wickets for three runs, his victims including J. H. King, F. A. Tarrant and L. C. Braund. A moderate fieldsman, Wass also accomplished little in batting, though in 1906 at Derby he hit, with the aid of four missed catches, an innings of 56, he and J. W. Day adding 98 for the ninth wicket and so enabling Nottinghamshire to recover from a breakdown against A. W. Warren.

Generally of kindly character, Wass could be stubborn when roused. The story used to be told of how he once arrived at The Oval for a match accompanied by his wife and was told by the gateman that the lady would not be allowed in without payment. Oh, said Wass grimly. If this beggar doan't coom in, this beggar--indicating himself-- doan't play! Mrs. Wass was admitted without further argument.--E. E.

WILCOCK, MR. GEORGE, who died at Scunthorpe on May 13, aged 61, was at one time regular wicket-keeper for Yorkshire 2nd XI.

WILCOX, MR. DENYS R., who died at Westcliff-on-Sea on February 6, aged 42, formerly captained Dulwich, Cambridge University and Essex. A prominent all-rounder for Dulwich from 1926 to 1929, he headed the batting averages in the last three years, and in 1929, when scoring 1,025 runs, average 64.06, obtained a record aggregate for the school. A stylish right-hand batsman, he first appeared for Essex in 1928, two years before going to Cambridge, where he gained a Blue in three seasons from 1931, being captain in 1933. In the 1932 match with Oxford he hit 157, the highest innings of his career.

His duties as headmaster of a preparatory school, which numbered among its pupils T. E. Bailey, the Essex and England all-rounder, limited his opportunities for taking Part in first-class cricket when he went down from the University, but he became joint captain of Essex from 1933 to 1939. His biggest score for the county was 134 against Warwickshire at Southend in 1946, when he and R. M. Taylor put on 263--a record for the eighth Essex wicket. In 1937, when making 1,250 runs, average 46.40, he hit 104 and 129 in the match with Kent at Chalkwell Park. In all first-class matches he scored 8,392 runs. When his first-class career ended he did much to assist in the Essex coaching scheme.

WRIGHT, MR. LEVI GEORGE, who died at Derby on January 11, four days before his 91st birthday, was one of the finest batsmen who ever appeared for Derbyshire. Probably a better player at the age of 40 than at any other period of his career, he will be best remembered for his work as a fieldsman at point. Never standing more than four or five yards from the bat, he brought off many brilliant catches.

Born at Oxford on January 15, 1862, Wright was a batsman well worth watching, though possessing no particular grace of style. Like most cricketers who learned the game before hooking and pulling came into general vogue, he played forward a lot and scored chiefly on the off-side. Strong in defence, he displayed a good deal of enterprise considering that during the whole of his career he so regularly found himself battling for a side that was nearly always struggling. First playing for Oxford City, he went to Derby as an assistant schoolmaster in 1881, appearing for Derby Midland. A year later began that association with Derbyshire which, apart from the summers of 1885 and 1886, went on without interruption till he retired at the end of the season of 1909.

His biggest scores were 195 against Northamptonshire in 1905 and 193 against Nottinghamshire in 1901, both at Derby. On five other occasions for the county he exceeded 140. He followed his score of 195 with 176 and 122 against Warwickshire at Edgbaston, so enjoying the satisfaction of playing three successive three-figure innings. Four times he represented Gentlemen against Players, and, with 1901 his best year when he registered 1,482 runs, average 32, he scored in all 15,155 runs, average 26. He was also an able Association footballer, and after giving up cricket took to bowls, a game he continued till the late eighties.

Of his fielding, E. M. Grace used to relate how on one occasion when a batsman kept poking at the ball and cocking it up, Wright crept in closer and closer till he was only a yard or so away from the striker. Soon the fieldsman thought he saw his chance of a catch. He made a grab and the crowd cheered, but it was the bat he held, not the ball!