Obituaries in 1965

ALLSOPP, THOMAS AYMES, who died on April 8, aged 62, was a former chairman of the Derby and District Umpires Association.

BAKELMAN, LADISLAUS EDMUND, who died in January, aged 64, was a leading bowler in Ceylon in the 1930's. Left-arm medium pace, he could send down a well-concealed leg-break. When at St. Benedict's College, he headed the averages for all schools in the island in 1918 and was the most successful bowler for Bloomfield C.C. In 1928 when he performed the hat-trick against the Sinhalese S.C. and toured India with Ceylon in 1932-33, "Laddie" Bakelman topped the bowling figures with 41 wickets at just over 16 runs apiece and he also played against the 1938 Australians.

BANKIER, ALLAN ARTHUR, who died on January 27, aged 66, was in the Winchester XI as opening batsman in 1915 and 1916 and later played for Wiltshire.

BIGNELL, LIEUT.-COL. GUY NEWCOME, who died on June 10, aged 78, was in the Haileybury XI in 1903 and 1904, heading the batting averages in the second year with 526 runs in 10 innings and hitting 51 against Cheltenham at Lord's. He played occasionally for Hampshire from 1904 to 1919, figuring in the last season under the assumed name of "G. Newcombe". His best score was 109 against Kent at Portsmouth in 1905.

BIRD, REV. FREDERICK NASH, who died on March 3, aged 88, played occasionally as a batsman for Gloucestershire in 1899 and 1900 and for Northamptonshire in 1908 and 1909. His highest first-class innings was 61 not out for Northamptonshire against Leicestershire at Leicester in 1908. He also played for Buckinghamshire, Devon and Suffolk.

BISSETT, GEORGE FINLAY, who collapsed and died at his home at Botha's Hill, near Durban, on November 14, aged 60, formerly played as a fast bowler for Griqualand West and for South Africa. He appeared four times against Capt. R. T. Stanyforth's M.C.C. team in 1927-28 and, in taking 25 wickets for 18.76 runs each, did much to enable South Africa to draw the Test rubber after losing the first two fixtures. In the final match at Durban, Bissett removed seven batsmen for 29 runs in the second innings, bringing about the dismissal of England for 118 and victory for South Africa by eight wickets.

ALLEN, ROLAND, who died at his home in Worthing in June, aged 75, was a sports journalist of long standing. Among the first of the Fleet Street sports columnists, "Bob" Allen covered the majority of the big events of his time, including a long succession of Test matches and F.A. Cup Finals.

BRADDELL, ROBERT LYTTLETON LEE, who died on March 17, aged 76, was in the Charterhouse XI from 1905 to 1907 as a hard-hitting batsman and bowler above medium-pace. In 1907, when second in the school batting figures with an average of 40.75, he shared with M. H. C. Doll a partnership of 214--180 of them scored in an hour--against Westminster. He gained a Blue at Oxford in 1910 and 1911, and though he achieved little in the matches with Cambridge, he hit 96 in the first innings against Kent at Oxford in the second year.

BURROUGH, GEORGE BAKER, who died on May 9, aged 58, did not gain a place in the XI at Wellington, but he became an accomplished spin-bowler who might have gained a reputation in first-class cricket had he been able to spare the time. He made one appearance for Somerset, against Cambridge University at Taunton in 1936. For many years he played for Street C.C.

CARTWRIGHT, VINCENT HENRY, who died on November 25, aged 83, captained Rugby School at cricket and Rugby football. In the XI in 1900 and 1901, he headed the batting figures with an average of 34.31 and a highest innings of 124 not out in the second year, during which he played in three matches for Nottinghamshire. Going up to Oxford, he did not gain a cricket Blue, but played against Cambridge in the University Rugby matches from 1901 to 1904. He captained the Dark Blues and also led England, for whom he played as a forward in 14 International matches between 1903 and 1907. In 1928 he became President of the Rugby Football Union.

CHIGNELL, THOMAS ALEXANDER, who died in the Royal Hospital, Portsmouth, on August 25, aged 84, played occasionally for Hampshire from 1901 to 1904. A slow bowler, he played some useful innings, the highest being 29 not out against Yorkshire at Portsmouth in 1904. He assisted Havant C.C. for many years.

CLARK, PERCY H., who died on August 12, aged 92, toured England with The Philadelphians in 1897 and 1903. A fast bowler who made the ball swerve late, he took 32 wickets for 31.28 runs each in 1897 and six years later dismissed 85 batsmen at an average cost of 20.50. He and J. B. King, who also died last year, formed the spearhead of the attack on those tours. Against a strong Australian side at Neverford in 1896, Clark took five wickets for 49 runs in the first innings and, going in at No. 10, hit 32, thus doing much to bring about defeat for the visiting team in an innings with 60 runs to spare. He was an honorary member of the Butterflies C.C.

COOK, CECIL BATSTONE, who died on July 23, aged 58, was in the St. Paul's XI in 1924 and 1925, being contemporary with E. T. Killick and H. M. Garland-Wells. He later played for Devon.

DALE, HAROLD AUBREY, who died suddenly on December 31, aged 52, was cricket writer for the Daily Express, for whom he covered the M.C.C. tour of Australia in 1946-47. He later lived in Australia for some years before returning to England. He joined the Navy as an ordinary seaman during the Second World War, rising to the rank of Lieut-Commander, R.N.V.R., and being mentioned in dispatches.

DANSON, CUTHBERT, familiarly known as "Dapper", who died in Birkenhead General Hospital on February 17, aged 77, from injuries received in a car accident, played in his younger days for Cheshire and in the Liverpool Competition for Oxton and New Brighton.

DEARNALEY, IRVINE, who died after being involved in a road accident on March 14, aged 88. was a great run-getter for Glossop for many years and became captain. He first played as a professional for Derbyshire against the West Indian touring team of 1900, but in a few matches in 1905 and 1907 he played as an amateur. His highest score for the county was 34--the best of the innings--against Essex at Glossop in 1905.

DOGGART, ARTHUR PETER, who died in Epsom District Hospital on March 17, aged 37, was in the Winchester XI as a batsman and medium-paced bowler in 1944 and 1945. A son of A. G. Doggart and younger brother of G. H. G. Doggart, the Cambridge Blues, he played occasionally as an amateur for Sussex between 1947 and 1951. He was on the staff of The Cricketer, for whom he wrote on public schools cricket.

EVATT, DR. HERBERT VERE, who died at Canberra following a long illness on November 3, aged 71, was a keen cricket enthusiast who contributed articles to Wisden in 1935 and 1938. At the age of 36, he was the youngest man ever to become a member of the Australian High Court Bench and he was Minister for External Affairs in 1941. Later he became Deputy Prime Minister of Australia.

HAINES, CLAUDE VINCENT GODBY, who died on January 28 aged 59 was in the King's Canterbury, XI and played for Kent II Eleven in 1924. He played as an amateur in a few matches for Glamorgan in 1933 and 1934, his highest first-class innings being 59 against Sussex at Cardiff in the first season. He also turned out for the British Empire XI which raised funds for the Red Cross during the Second World War. His father, A. H. J. Haines, played for Gloucestershire.

GORDON, HERBERT PRITCHARD, who died on October 17, aged 68, did not gain a place in the XI while at Malvern, but played a few games as an amateur for Worcestershire in 1923 and the following season. On his first appearance for the county, he followed 0 in the first innings with 68 not out against the West Indies touring team at Worcester.

HAMPDEN, THE FOURTH VISCOUNT (Thomas Henry Brand), who died on October 17, aged 65, was in the Eton XI of 1918, playing in the two "unofficial" one-day games against Harrow and one against Winchester. In the second match with Harrow he was top scorer with 23 in a total of 91. He was a page of honour to King George V from 1913 to 1916. His father captained Eton in 1887 and became President of M.C.C. in 1926.

HARDINGE, HAROLD THOMAS WILLIAM, who died at Cambridge on May 8, aged 79, was one of a very small number of men who played for England at both cricket and Association football. A sound and reliable opening batsman at a time when cricketers of ability in that place in the order were plentiful,he played for England in 1921 at Leeds in a match against Australia from which J. B. Hobbs had to withdraw on the opening day because of appendicitis. As a centre-forward, Hardinge represented his country against Scotland at Glasgow in 1910 and he also played for Sheffield United and Arsenal.

"Wally" Hardinge rendered great service to Kent as a professional from 1902 to 1933 and he took part in six Gentlemen v. Players matches between 1911 and 1924, making 127 at the Oval in 1921. During a career lasting thirty-one years, he scored 33,519 runs in first-class cricket at an average of 36.51 Per innings, dismissed 371 batsmen with slow left-arm bowling for 26.37 runs each and held 293 catches. He hit 75 centuries, the highest being 263, scored in six hours against Gloucestershire, at Gloucester in 1928. That summer was his most successfull in run-getting for he reached an aggregate of 2,446, average 59.65. Altogether he passed 1,000 runs in a season on eighteen occasions, five times exceeding 2,000. He put together two seperate centuries in a match four times: 153 and 126 against Essex at Leyton in 1908; 175 and 109 v. Hampshire at Southampton in 1911; 117 and 105 not out v. Hampshire at Dover in 1913 and 207 and 102 v. Surrey at Blackheath in 1921. In 1913 he reached three figures in four successive innings--154 not out against Leicestershire at Canterbury; 117 and 105 not out v. Hampshire and 107 v. Northamptonshire at Dover. As a bowler, his most outstanding analysis was achieved at Tunbridge Wells in 1929 when, on a pitch responsive to spin, he took six Warwickshire wickets in 11.5 overs at a cost of nine runs. For many years he was on the business staff of John Wisden and Co., Ltd.

HARTLEY, FRANK, who died on October 20, aged 69, did good all-round work as an amateur for Oxfordshire between 1922 and 1931. His first season was his best, for he scored 353 runs, with a highest innings of 139, average 29.41, and took 32 wickets for 12.08 runs each. Better known as an Association footballer, Hartley played with distinction at inside-left for Oxford City and the Corinthians and took part in seven Amateur International matches between 1923 and 1926. He also gained a full England cap against France in 1923. When joining Tottenham Hotspur, he became the first Corinthian player to sign professional forms.

HEATH, WALTER H. G., who died suddenly on December 4, the day following his 68th birthday, played for Surrey as an amateur in two matches in 1919. A wicket-keeper-batsman, he held four catches and against Essex at the Oval and hit 58 not out. He also played for the Royal Air Force.

HOTHAM, ADMIRAL SIR ALAN G., who died on July 10, aged 88, played for Hampshire against Lancashire at Portsmouth in 1901. He also assisted Devon.

HUBBLE, JOHN CHARLTON, who died on February 26, aged 84, was one of a trio of great wicket-keepers who, playing in succession for Kent, spanned well over half a century. He succeeded F. H. Huish and was succeeded by L. E. G. Ames. Hubble served his county as a professional from 1904 to 1929, helping them on the last occasion they carried off the County Championship in 1913. In that time he scored over 10,000 runs and helped in the dismissal of more than 500 batsmen.

A beautiful exponent of off-side strokes, he was played until 1919 chiefly for his run-getting ability and it was not until after the First World War that he took over as regular wicket-keeper. Though a consistent batsman, he hit only five centuries in his long career, the highest being 189, put together in less than three hours, against Sussex at Tunbridge Wells in 1911. His best performance as a wicket-keeper was at Cheltenham in 1923, when he disposed of ten batsmen in the match, six in the first innings and four in the second. He held nine catches and brought off one stumping. He took part in the match with Yorkshire at Harrogate in 1904 which was declared void because the pitch had been tampered with. Holes, clearly obvious at the close of play on the first day, had been filled in before the second morning, and though play continued so that the crowd should not be disappointed, the match was not allowed to count in the Championship. Schofield Haigh, the Yorkshire and England medium-pace bowler, tried his hand at slow leg-breaks in the Kent second innings and performed the "hat-trick". For a number of years Hubble acted as coach in South Africa.

JACKSON, VICTOR EDWARD, who was killed in a motor-car accident in Australia on January 28, aged 48, played for New South Wales in 1936 before qualifying by residence for Leicestershire. He played in two non-Championship matches for the county in 1938 and 1939, when he toured New Zealand with Sir Julien Cahn's team, and when war broke out returned to Australia. Back in England, he appeared as a professional for Leicestershire from 1946 to 1956. An all-rounder, he scored 15.698 runs, average 28.43, and took with off-breaks 965 wickets for 24.73 runs each. The highest of his twenty-one centuries was 170 against Northamptonshire at Leicester in 1948 and he completed 1,000 runs in each of his eleven seasons. He often coached in South Africa during the English winter and in 1957 and 1958 was professional for Rawtenstall in the Lancashire League.

JAMESON, TOM ORMSBY, who died in a Dublin hospital on February 6, aged 72, was in the Harrow XI in 1909 and 1910, taking part in the historic "Fowler's Match" in the second year. In that game Eton, dismissed for 67 and following on 165 behind, had lost five men for 65 before R. St. L. Fowler came to the rescue with an innings of 64. Even so, Harrow were left only 55 runs to get for victory, but they collapsed against the off breaks of Fowler, who took eight wickets for 23, and Eton snatched a remarkable win by nine runs. In the match, Fowler scored 85 runs and earned bowling figures of twelve wickets for 113 runs.

"Tommy" Jameson was a great player of ball games. He played cricket for Hampshire as an all-rounder between 1919 and 1932; he represented Gentlemen against Players on four occasions; he played twice for Ireland and made three tours abroad--with the Hon. L. H. Tennyson's team to South Africa in 1924-25, with the Hon. F. S. G. Calthorpe's M.C.C. team to the West Indies in 1925-26 and P. F. Warner's M.C.C. side to South America in 1926-27, when he obtained two centuries and headed the batting averages with 42.11. In all first-class cricket he hit 4,631 runs, average 31.71, with leg-break bowling took 241 wickets for 23.92 runs each and, chiefly at slip, held 86 catches.

A fine Rackets player, he won the Army Singles Championship in 1922, 1923 and 1924: was one of the winning pair in the Inter-Regimental Doubles Championship in 1920, 1921 and 1922 and reached the final of the Amateur Singles Championship in 1924. He also won the Amateur Squash Rackets Championship in 1922 and 1923.

JOHNSON, GEORGE HARRY, who died on January 20, aged 70, kept wicket as an amateur in 18 matches for Northamptonshire between 1922 and 1932. He served on the county Committee from 1926 to 1939.

KING, JOHN BARTON, who died in a Philadelphia nursing home on October 17, aged 92, was beyond question the greatest all-round cricketer produced by America. When he toured England with The Philadelphians in 1897, 1903 and 1908, Sir Pelham Warner described him as one of the finest bowlers of all time. Very fast and powerfully built, King made the ball swerve late from leg, demonstrating that what could be done with the ball by a pitcher at baseball, at which he was expert, could also be achieved with a ball half an ounce heavier. In 1897 he took 72 wickets, average 24.20. and hit 441 runs, average 20.10. His best analysis that season was seven wickets for 13 runs at Hove where, on a good pitch, he bowled K. S. Ranjitsinhji first ball for 0 and Sussex were disposed of for 46. Six years later "Bart" King dismissed 93 batsmen for 14.91 runs each and scored 653 runs, average 28.89. At the Oval, where the Philadelphians defeated Surrey by 110 runs, he distinguished himself by scoring 98 and 113 not out and taking six wickets. Against Lancashire at Old Trafford, he followed an analysis of five wickets for 46 in the first innings by sending back nine men in the second--eight of them bowled--for 62. the remaining batsman being run out. In 1908 his record was 87 wickets in first-class games for 11.01 runs each, the best average in England that year, and he scored 290 runs, average 16.11. When Kent made a short tour of America in 1903, King played innings of 39 and 41 for Philadelphia against them and in the first county innings took seven wickets for 39 runs. He played eleven times for the U.S.A. against Canada from 1892, rarely being on the losing side, and in 1902, 1904, 1908 and 1911 held the Childs Cups for the best batting and bowling in Philadelphia cricket.--J.I.M.

LAY, GEORGE, who died in a Hastings hospital on June 11, aged 69, played a major part in reviving the Hastings Festival after the Second World War, being secretary for several years. As a cricketer, he played for Southend C.C. when 16 and continued with them as opening batsman and bowler till 1932. After retiring as headmaster, he moved to Hastings in 1937, playing for Hastings and St. Leonards C.C. He became a founder member of Priory C.C., whom he later served as secretary and then president. He had been trustee and chairman of the Central Ground Committee.

LOCKETT, AARON, who died in February, aged 71, was a professional with Oldham in the Central Lancashire League from 1929 to 1940, and also played for Staffordshire and the Minor Counties. An all-rounder, he once took all ten Royton wickets for 53 runs and five times dismissed 100 or more batsmen in a season. He shone particularly as a batsman in the game against the West Indies at Exeter in 1928. He hit 22 and 154 and the Minor Counties, after following-on 181 behind, won by 42 runs. As an Association footballer, he played at inside-forward for Port Vale and Stoke City.

LOOKER, SAMUEL JOSEPH, who died on January 11, aged 76, edited Cricket: An Anthology For Cricketers, published in 1925.

MAY, PERCY ROBERT, who died on December 6, aged 81, was in his day a fast bowler of repute. He appeared occasionally for Surrey from 1902 to 1909, taking six wickets for 88 in the Worcestershire first innings at the Oval in 1906, and played with Dr. W. G. Grace for London County in the early part of the century. May got his Blue at Cambridge in 1905 and 1906, in which seasons he also played at full-back in the University Association football matches. In his second season for Cambridge, he distinguished himself by taking 12 Yorkshire wickets for 76 runs and six for 28 against Gloucestershire, both at Fenner's. He toured New Zealand with Capt. E. G. Wynyard's M.C.C. side of 1906-07, dismissing 56 batsmen in all matches, average 14.73. He was author of M.C.C. in New Zealand. His one match for Gentlemen against Players was at the Oval in 1906, the last of its kind in which Dr. Grace took part. Later well-known in Ceylon cricket, he took, during his first-class career, 247 wickets at a cost of 24.46 runs each.

MAYHEW, MAJOR THOMAS GARRETT, who died on December 12, aged 71, was in the Uppingham XI as batsman and change bowler in 1911 and 1912. He played for Kent II Eleven in 1921.

MIGNON, WILLIAM, who died in Grenada on November 30, aged 95, was the last surviving member of the West Indian cricket team to tour England in 1900 under the leadership of R. S. A. Warner, brother of Sir Pelham Warner. A professional bowler, Mignon made the trip when by no means fit and did not produce his best form. During the tour, he took 30 wickets for 29.43 runs each, his best analysis being 10 wickets for 117 runs against Lancashire at Old Trafford.

MONCKTON, WALTER TURNER, FIRST VISCOUNT OF BRENCHLEY, who died on January 9, aged 73, kept wicket for Harrow against Eton in "Fowler's Match", to which fuller reference has been made in the obituary of T. O. Jameson. Going up to Oxford at a time when the University was unusually rich in wicket-keepers, he did not gain a Blue, though he was awarded a Harlequin cap in 1912. From 1919 to 1946 he kept wicket for the Bar, became President of M.C.C. in 1956 and was President of Surrey from 1950 to 1952 and from 1959 till his death. He gained great distinction as a barrister and was in turn Attorney-General--a post he held at the time of the abdication of King Edward VIII in 1936-Solicitor-General, Minister of Defence, Paymaster-General and Minister of Labour.

MUNT, COLONEL HARRY RAYMOND, who died as the result of a motor-car accident on December 27, aged 63, headed the Westminster batting figures in 1921 with 554 runs, average 51.36, and also took 35 wickets. He used his height to advantage as a hard-hitting batsman and fast bowler. In 1923 he played for Middlesex against Essex at Lord's, but did not bat, and he also assisted Sir Julien Cahn's XI.

NOTHLING, DR. OTTO ERNST, who died on September 26 at Brisbane, aged 65, played for Australia as a medium-paced bowler at Sydney in the second Test of the 1928-29 series against the England team led by A. P. F. Chapman, but did not take a wicket. He made 14 appearances for New South Wales in Sheffield Shield engagements, scoring 678 runs, average 27.12, and taking 24 wickets for 44.79 runs each. He had been President of the Queensland Cricket Association. When at Sydney University, he achieved a reputation as an athlete and, as a Rugby Union full-back, played against New Zealand.

OAKES, ALFRED, who died at Horsham on August 16, aged 84, was an all-round sportsman in his younger days. For 60 years he lived in the cottage at the Horsham cricket ground where his sons, Charlie and Jack, who played for Sussex, were born. Pre-war county cricketers will remember the excellent pitches prepared by "Joker" Oakes for the Horsham Festival Week,

DE PARAVINCINI, PERCY CHANDOS FARQUHAR, who died at the Roes Memorial Hospital, Newmarket, on March 31, aged 84, was in the Harrow XI of 1899, but did not get a Blue at Cambridge. He later assisted Buckinghamshire. His father, H. F. de Paravincini, played for Harrow, Cambridge and Middlesex.

PEACH, FREDERICK GEORGE, who died on January 15, aged 83, made occasional appearances as an amateur for Derbyshire between 1907 and 1925. He played in 16 matches for the county in 1920, scoring 186 runs, average 12.40, and hitting his highest innings, 61 not out against Warwickshire at Edgbaston. He had been Mayor of Burton-on-Trent. He was unrelated to F. G. Peach, the present Editor of the Derbyshire County Cricket Year Book.

PIGGOT, JULIAN ITO, who died on January 23, aged 76, played occasionally for Surrey from 1910 to 1913, hitting 84 against Oxford University at the Oval in 1910. As a batsman, he was in the Cheltenham XI from 1904 to 1907.

RELF, ROBERT RICHARD, who died at Reading on April 28, aged 81, played as a boy for Berkshire before qualifying for Sussex, whom he assisted as a professional all-rounder from 1905 to 1924. being one of three brothers to play for the county. He then returned to his native county, with whom he continued till the age of 63. As an all-rounder he scored 13,433 runs, including 22 centuries for Sussex, average 28.15, took 283 wickets for 28.04 runs each, and altogether held 278 catches. Capable of stern defence, he was a highly-consistent run-getter who hit well all round the wicket, with the drive probably his best stroke. His highest innings for the county was 272 not out, when he carried his bat through an innings of 433 against Worcestershire at Eastbourne in 1909, and he exceeded 200 on two other occasions. Six times he hit more than 1,000 runs in a season--from 1908 to 1913--his best year being 1912 when in all matches he reached an aggregate of 1,804, average 32.21. He played for Players against Gentlemen at Folkestone in 1925, scoring 73.

His career with Sussex ended on an unfortunate note. Against Surrey at the Oval in 1924, he fielded while Surrey scored four runs, when rain stopped cricket. During the break, P. G. H. Fender, the Surrey captain, objected to the inclusion of Reif in the Sussex eleven on the grounds that he had played for Berkshire the previous season and thus broke his qualification. Reif was withdrawn from the side, his place being taken by J. H. Parks.

He later enjoyed great success for Berkshire, and never more so than in the 1924 Minor Counties' Challenge match with Northumberland. He hit 100 in the first innings and followed by taking nine wickets for four runs apiece. From 1942 to 1960, Reif served as coach and groundsman at Leighton Park School, Reading, where his services were highly esteemed. Previously he was cricket coach to Charterhouse and Westminster.

ROBERTS, RONALD ARTHUR, who died after a long illness on August 17, aged 38, was a free-lance journalist of world-wide reputation and popularity. From 1952 onwards, he reported as many as fourteen overseas tours, many of them for The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph. In addition he organised and managed tours to such places as South Africa, Kenya, Rhodesia, Pakistan, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Nairobi, Tanganyika, Greece, the U.S.A.. Canada and Bermuda. As a young man he was a member of the Somerset Committee and was the author of Sixty Years of Somerset Cricket.

RUCKER, CHARLES EDWARD SIGISMUND, who died on November 24, aged 71, was in the Charterhouse XI for three years from 1911. A fast bowler, he also became a good batsman as, when captain, he showed in hitting 103 against Westminster in 1913. He gained a Blue at Oxford in 1914 when he appeared for Kent II Eleven. The loss of a leg during the First World War ended his cricket career, but he was Secretary at Oxford in 1919, in which year his younger brother, P. W. Rucker, played against Cambridge.

SAMMS. WILLIAM JOHN, who died at Worthing on August 16, played for Kent II Eleven in 1903.

SANDERS, WILFRED, who died in a Nuneaton hospital after many years of ill-health in May, aged 55, played for Warwickshire as a professional medium-pace bowler between 1928 and 1934. In all first-class cricket he took 117 wickets for 39.85 runs apiece. Though rarely achieving much with the bat, he hit 64 against Nottinghamshire at Edgbaston in 1936 and in the same summer, also at Birmingham, scored 54 in a partnership of 128 with F. R. Santall (105 not out)--a last-wicket record for Warwickshire which still stands.

SPOONER, ARCHIBALD FRANKLIN, who died on January 11, aged 79, was younger brother of R. H. Spooner, the Lancashire and England batsman. In the Haileybury XI of 1901 and 1902. A. F. Spooner also played as an amateur for Lancashire from 1906 to 1909. His best and highest innings for the county was at Leyton in 1908 when, despite a nasty blow on the knee, he hit 83 out of a total of 195. That season he scored 450 runs, average 16.07, and Wisden said of him: "He had much of his brother's grace and style, but speaking generally was only a partial success."

STAPLES, ARTHUR, who died on September 9, aged 66, was a valuable professional all-rounder for Nottinghamshire from 1924 to 1938. His brother, S. J Staples, also played for the county. A steady batsman and medium-paced bowler, Arthur seven times exceeded 1,000 runs in a season and he hit ten centuries. In dismissing 64 batsmen in 1929, he helped materially in the winning of the county title by Nottinghamshire. His best seasons as an all-rounder were those of 1932 when, with the aid of three centuries, he registered 1,265 runs and took 51 wickets, and 1933(1,251 runs, 67 wickets). In the 1932 match against Northamptonshire at Kettering his 67 included a 9, five being from a stroke that stopped short of the ring and J. E. Timms overthrew to the boundary. He also played Association football, keeping goal for Mansfield Town and Bournemouth.

STREET, B. CHARLES, who died on April 8, aged 77, was for many years groundsman at the Rectory Field, Blackheath, He played for Kent II Eleven in 1906.

THOMAS, ALBERT B., who died in Kidderminster Hospital on March 21, aged 71, accomplished much good work as a professional medium-paced bowler for Northamptonshire between 1919 and 1933. Accurate in length, he made the ball swing either way and during his career he dismissed 832 batsmen for 25.52 runs each. A useful lower-order batsman, he scored 4,835 runs, average 13.31, his highest innings being 84 against Worcestershire at Worcester in 1930, and he held 116 catches, He attracted attention in 1920 when, at Bradford, he obtained nine wickets for 30 runs in the Yorkshire first innings, conceding only six runs while taking the last seven. Among a number of other good analyses were seven wickets for 44 in the first Lancashire innings at Old Trafford in 1928; 10 for 54 in the match with Glamorgan at Kettering in 1924 and 10 for 67 against the same opponents at Northampton the following year, and 10 for 61 against Sussex at Kettering in 1930. He also performed the "hat-trick" at the expense of Leicestershire at Northampton in 1927. His most successful summer was that of 1928 when in all matches he took 101 wickets for 25.36 runs apiece and represented Players v. Gentlemen at Lord's. He was chosen for the Players at Folkestone in the same season and again in 1930, when he hit 74 not out and he and G. S. Boyes (95 not out) put on 140 in an unbroken last-wicket partnership. Thomas lost some of his effectiveness during his last two seasons with the county, following an operation on the elbow of his bowling arm, but for some years afterwards he did well in Birmingham League cricket.

T0PPIN, JOHN FALLOWFIELD TOWNSEND, who died soddenly on November 22, aged 65, was a member of the Winchester XI in 1917 and 1918, taking five wickets for 38 runs against Eton in the second year. He played in one match for Worcestershire in 1920. He was the elder brother of C. U. Toppin, who also assisted Worcestershire, and nephew of S. H. and A. P. Day, of Kent. Their father was C. Toppin, who "made" Malvern cricket.

WALKER. HERBERT LEATHAM, who died peacefully after a serious illness in St. Luke's Hospital. Bradford, on February 17, aged 82, spent a lifetime in sport. Hailing from the Huddersfield district, he was an opening left-arm bowler for the Low Moor Team in the Bradford League. He was also well-known as a Soccer referee for Bradford A.F.A., and a member of that committee almost to his end. When he turned to administration, he became secretary of the Bradford Cricket League. Later he spent 29 years in the service of Yorkshire C.C.C., first as assistant to the secretary. Mr. J. H. Nash, and more recently as the county scorer. He acted as scorer for England in many Tests at Headingley and was always courteous and efficient.

WASSELL, THOMAS EDGAR, who died on April 6, aged 67, was vice-president of Derbyshire C.C.C. He had been a director of Derby County F.C., was vice-president of Derbyshire R.F.U. and an administrative steward of the British Boxing Board of Control.

WEAVER-ADAMS, DR. EDMUND RALPH, who died in hospital on August 13, aged 70, played as a batsman for Buckinghamshire, whom he helped to carry off the Minor Counties' Championship in 1923. He served on the County committee from 1924 to 1931. He captained Slough from 1924 to 1927 and was President of the club at the time of his death.

WHATMAN, MAJOR ARTHUR DUNBAR, who died on May 28, aged 92, was a wicket-keeper who, though not gaining a place in the XI at Eton, played for Suffolk and took part in a number of tours abroad. He visited the West Indies with Lord Hawke's team in 1897 and B. J. T. Bosanquet's side in 1903; the U.S.A. with P. F. Warner's team in 1897 and New Zealand with Lord Hawke's team in 1902.

WHITE, REV. HAROLD, who died at Taunton on January 11, aged 88, was in the Denstone XI before going up to Oxford, where he gained a Blue in 1910. A fast right-arm bowler with a very high delivery, he took only three wickets in the University match, but achieved some good performances, notably when dismissing six batsmen for 10 runs in the Sussex second innings at Hove. He later played for Northumberland.

WILKINS, HARRY EDMUND BRAZIER, who died in Beckenham Hospital on February 16, aged 85, was in his young days a leading cricketer for Forest Hill C.C. and remained an ardent follower of the game, particularly in Kent. "Wilkie" was better known in Rugby football circles, for he played as a front row forward for Catford Bridge, whom he captained from 1908 to 1914, for London Welsh, Beckenham, Kent and London, and was one of the oldest Barbarians, having first appeared for the famous nomad club in 1911-12. After being match-secretary for Kent, he became President of the County Union in 1938, a position he held till 1947, and was their representative on the Committee of the Rugby Football Union from 1926 to 1954. He was also chairman of London R.F.U. and at one time officiated as referee in international matches. He was joint honorary secretary of the British Sportsman's Club. In the Buffs and the Machine Gun Corps during the First World War, he reached the rank of Major.

WILSON, MAJOR CHARLES SPENCER, who died on March 14, aged 86, was a good batsman for Suffolk between 1905 and 1911.

WOOSNAM, MAXWELL, who died on July 14, aged 72, was one of the greatest all-round amateur sportsman of his day. He captained Winchester in 1911, his second season in the XI, at cricket and golf. In 1911, when Wisden described him as one of the School players of the year, he hit 144 and 33 not out for a Public Schools XI against M.C.C. at Lord's. Going up to Cambridge, he did not get a Blue for cricket, though he was twelfth man in the 1912 match against Oxford, but he represented the University at Association football, captaining the side in 1914, lawn tennis and real tennis. An outstanding centre-half, "Max" played football for the Corinthians, with whom he was on tour in Brazil when the First World War broke out. After Army service, he played for three years for Manchester City, whom he captained, and in 1922 became one of the few amateurs to gain an England cap in a full International when he was chosen as captain against Wales. At lawn tennis, he and R. Lycett won the doubles at Wimbledon in 1921 when he also captained the British Davis Cup team in America. At Antwerp in 1920 he won an Olympic Gold Medal as partner to O. G. N. Turnbull in the men's doubles and a silver medal in the mixed doubles. He later did much good work for the International Lawn Tennis Club of Great Britain.

WRIGHT, REV. ROBERT LANCELOT GERRARD, who died suddenly while playing golf at Minehead on September 9, aged 73, played for Lincolnshire as a batsman from 1928 to 1931.

WRIGLEY, ARTHUR, who died in a Stockport hospital on October 30, aged 53, was well-known as a cricket statistician. After service with the Royal Air Force, he became, as a slow right-arm bowler and forceful batsman, a member of the Lancashire ground staff before, in 1934, he took up the post of scorer for the B.B.C. which he held till his death.