The son of John Makinson, solicitor, of Manchester. He was educated at Huddersfield College and Owens College, Manchester and went up to Clare College, Cambridge in 1856, where he gained a 2nd Class Mathematical Honours Degree. He played for the University in all three years of his attendance, playing at Lord's against Oxford three times, making 140 runs in his six innings, with a top score of 64, and also taking 21 wickets, including 7 for 38 and 3 for 65 in 1857.

He was called to the Bar at Lincolns Inn in 1864 and practised for some time on the Northern Circuit. He officiated as Deputy-Coroner for Manchester from 1866, until he was appointed, in 1878, Stipendiary Magistrate of Salford. He continued in that position until his retirement on 4th March 1911, on a pension of £600 per annum.

Just under 5ft.7 inches tall and weighing just over ten stone, he was an attacking middle-order right-handed batsman, a right-hand medium pace round-arm bowler and good fielder.

On 7th May 1857, playing for the Undergraduates of Cambridge against Cambridgeshire he scored 126 and the following year for the Undergraduates against the Gentlemen of Cambridgeshire he scored 136. On the 21st June 1860 he scored 104 for Twenty of the Manchester Broughton Club against England, whose bowlers included J.Jackson, E.Willsher, T.Hayward and G.Tarrant. In 1859 he was presented with a gold watch and chain with the following inscription - "Presented to Jos. Makinson, by his fellow members of the Broughton Club, as a mark of their pride in him as a cricketer, and their affection for him as a friend."

In his later years he would produce this watch and display the inscription with great pride.

Richard Daft tells the story of the time in 1858 when Makinson was staying in Leicestershire and was taken by his host to play for Twenty-two of Eastwell against the All England Eleven. George Parr objected, saying that the Twenty-two could have any man from his Eleven and Makinson could play for the All England Eleven. Eastwell took Diver and Makinson was enrolled into the Eleven but rain spoiled the match and Makinson made very few runs -Diver scored 60.

On 11th and 12th July 1864, with his great friend John Walker, he played for the Surrey Club against a South Wales side which included a 15-year-old W.G.Grace, and scored 86 and 36 not out. During his time at Lincolns Inn he also played in matches for the Southgate Club.

In 1865 he played for Lancashire in their first first-class match, against Middlesex at Old Trafford, when he scored 45 and 0.

In 1871 he played for the Gentlemen of Lancashire against Cambridge University and scored 64 and 65.

He continued to play club cricket for Broughton until the end of the 1870s and in 1877 scored 104 not out against The United South of England Eleven.

Although giving up play after his appointment as Stipendiary Magistrate he maintained his interest in the game to the end, and was for some time the Chairman of the Lancashire County Cricket Club. He remained a member of the Broughton Club and also the Sale Club, until his death.

In 1881 he and his family were living at 204 Great Clowes Street, Broughton-in-Salford.

He died at his home, Broomfield Avenue, Roundthorne, Sale, Cheshire and was buried at the Cemetery of St.John's Church, Higher Broughton, Salford.

His elder brother Charles Makinson (born 1831) emigrated to Australia and played two first-class matches for Victoria 1861-2. He returned to England and died at Rugeley, Staffordshire,on 12th June 1895.

(Article: Copyright © 2004 Don Ambrose)

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