Brief profile of Reginald Wood by Don Ambrose

---

Player:

R Wood

---

WOOD, Reginald.
Amateur.
Born at Woodchurch, Birkenhead, Cheshire, 7th March 1860.
Died at St Ronan’s Hospital, Manly, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 6th January 1915.
The son of John Wood, merchant, of Birkenhead, he was educated at Charterhouse where he was a member of the cricket eleven in 1876. He played his club cricket for Birkenhead Park and represented the Liverpool & District eleven and Lancashire from 1880, but in 1885 emigrated to Australia. He played a couple of times for Victoria and during the England tour of Australia in 1886/7, when W. Barnes was injured he played in three matches for the touring side, including one Test Match. In all he played in 12 first-class matches. He became a professional coach at East Melbourne 1887/88, Melbourne Cricket Club 1888/89 and at the Albert Club, Sydney in 1889.
It is recorded in the Charterhouse register that he was sheep farming in Australia, but the more likely truth was that he acted as a book-keeper at Manley, Sydney, where he lived.
At the time of the 1881 Census he was living at 5 Slatey Road, Claughton, Birkenhead, with his father John Wood, aged 73 born Rochdale, a merchant, and his mother Elizabeth F. Wood, aged 59 born Montreal, Canada. Also present are Reginald aged 21 a scholar, his sister Elizabeth T. aged 38, and his brothers Frederick William aged 16 and Alexander G. aged 14 and his aunt Miss Martha Wood aged 68. There are two domestic servants.

 

(Article: Copyright © 2004 Don Ambrose)