Brief profile of W.J.Ford
by Don Ambrose
FORD, William Justice.
Amateur.
Born at Paddington, London, 7th November 1853.
Died at Kensington, London, 3rdApril 1904.
The son of W.A.Ford of London, who played for the M.C.C. in 1839. He was educated at Repton School where he was a member of the cricket eleven 1870-72, captain 1872. He went up to St.Johns College, Cambridge, and was a member of the University Eleven 1873-74. He played in 25 first-class matches altogether, 7 of them for Middlesex, he also played for Wiltshire 1882-83. He gained his B.A. in 1876 and became an assistant master at Marlborough College 1877 until 1886, when he left to become headmaster of Nelson College in New Zealand. During his time in New Zealand he played a few matches for Nelson. In 1890 he returned to England to take up the headmastership of Leamington College, which he held until 1893. He then wrote books, including a few on cricket. His brothers A.F.J. and F.G.J. played for Middlesex, as did his nephew N.M. who also played for Derbyshire. His uncle G.J. played for Oxford University.
The 1881 Census finds him as an assistant master at Marlborough College, aged 27.
(Article: Copyright © 2003 Don Ambrose)
