Brief profile of Wilfred Flowers by Don Ambrose

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Player:

W Flowers

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FLOWERS, Wilfred.
Professional.
Born at Calverton, Nottinghamshire, 7th December 1856.
Died at Carlton, Nottingham, 1st November 1926.
His family moved early in his life to Sutton-in-Ashfield, that centre of Nottinghamshire cricket, and there he learned the game. He first went out as a professional at Worksop in 1874, at the age of 17. He was at the Rusholme Club, Manchester in 1875 and 1876 and at Church, Oswaldtwistle, in Lancashire in 1877, and in that year he got his first opportunity to play for Nottinghamshire. From 1878 he consolidated his permanent position in the county team and was engaged on the MCC staff. In all between 1877 and 1896 he played in 442 first-class matches, 281 of them for Nottinghamshire and 8 Test Matches. He toured Australia twice. His engagement at Lord’s continued until 1899 and he stood as a first-class umpire 1907 to 1912.
During the winter whilst he lived at Sutton-in-Ashfield he worked as a frame work knitter, but in 1887 he moved to Daybrook and in 1897 to Carlton and worked as a lacehand. His death occurred at his place of work.
The 1881 Census finds him living at Station Street, Sutton-in-Ashfield, aged 24 and a framework knitter, with his wife Martha, aged 24, born at Fulwood, Nottingham. They have one domestic servant.

(Article: Copyright © 2003 Don Ambrose)