Lancashire player number 42 - Richmond, William by Don Ambrose

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Player:

W Richmond

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Lancashire 1868
Born 1.12.1843 Yorkshire Street, Burnley.
Died 11.11.1912 16 Palatine Square, Burnley.

 

The son of a Burnley grocer, who later went into manufacturing. He was tall and powerfully built and was on at least two occasions presented with a bat for being the batsman with the highest aggregate of runs for the season for the Burnley Cricket Club. He was well known locally for his big hitting and once knocked a ball out of the Turf Moor Ground as far as the St.Mary's Roman Catholic Church. In 1863 playing for Burnley against Keighley he hit 65 out of 90 against the bowling of Tom Emmett.

 

He was a fine all-round athlete and won local competitions for pole vaulting and shot putting.

 

His only venture into first-class cricket was on 28th to 30th May 1868 when he played for Lancashire against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge. It was not a success!

 

He was in business in Burnley as a textile machinist, trading under the name of J.T.Pearson.

 

At the time of the 1881 Census he was living at 8 Herbert Street, Habergham Eaves, aged 37 a general agent, and his wife Mary aged 37. They had four sons, Arthur aged 13, James W. aged 6, Walter aged 4 and Harry aged 2, and one daughter Carrie aged 1.

 

He was for sixteen years the organist at the Westgate Chapel and always took a keen interest in music. He was a member of the Silent Temple Lodge of Freemasons and was a Worshipful Master. As the Burnley Express says in his obituary on 13.11.1912 "He never entered public life, but socially few men were better known, and none were better company."

 

He died from heart trouble, with which he had been suffering for some time, leaving a widow and several children. He was buried at St.Peter's Churchyard.

 

(Article: Copyright © 2004 Don Ambrose)