The son of Thomas Parr, the senior partner of Parr's Bank, Warrington. He was educated at Cheltenham, where he was a member of the Eleven in 1863 and 1864.

After leaving school he entered the family bank for two years, but it was turned into a joint stock company, and he lost his junior partnership. His father bought him a partnership in another bank, but work there conflicted with his cricket. He then moved to Liverpool where he became a cotton broker, and in 1866 joined the Liverpool Stock Exchange.

5ft. eight inches tall and weighing ten stone, he was a stubborn middle order right-hand bat, who bowled "when required" which was never at first-class level. He fielded in the deep.

On 15th and 16th July 1872 he played his first match for Lancashire, against Yorkshire, at Sheffield, when he went in first wicket down and scored 37 (top score on either side) and 2.

On 22nd and 23rd August 1873 he scored 61 opening the innings against Derbyshire at Old Trafford and that month he had played in his one match for the Gentlemen of Lancashire, against Lord Hill's Eleven at Hawkstone, scoring 11 and 7.

Between 1874 and 1878 he played seven times for Cheshire, scoring 228 runs at an average of 19.00, with a top score of 46.

His club cricket when he moved to Liverpool was divided between Liverpool Cricket Club and Birkenhead Park. In 1874, playing for Liverpool against Dingle he scored 202.

On 16th to 18th August 1866 he had played for Eighteen of Birkenhead Park against the All England Eleven at Birkenhead, scoring 25 not out and 4, and in the same fixture in 1871 he scored 7.

He played for Liverpool on their early Public School Tours, including, in 1869, the match against his old school, Cheltenham. He was also on the 1881 tour. When he died he was the "Father" longest standing member, of the Liverpool Stock Exchange.

He never married.

(Article: Copyright © 2004 Don Ambrose)

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