Famous Cricketers No 63 - A.O.Jones

SEASON’S AVERAGES Batting and Fielding M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St County Championship 5 6 0 110 40 18.33 - - 4 - Other Notts matches 1 1 0 66 66 66.00 - 1 1 - Season 6 7 0 176 66 25.14 - 1 5 - Career 472 774 47 22952 296 31.57 34 117 577 2 Postscript After his last appearance for Nottinghamshire, Arthur Owen spent the rest of the summer in a sanatorium in the New Forest. There were several well tried remedies for what was then called consumption but which nowadays is referred to as pulmonary tuberculosis. One of the favourite cures was fresh air and sunlight. Arthur Owen no doubt spent many a balmy day sitting out of doors in the sun. Such measures may have caused a temporary remission of symptoms but patients were eventually sent home to die. A.O. went to stay with his brother Dr Christopher Lloyd at Lanark House, in Dunstable. It is probable that his wife and children also moved into Lanark House so that they could be with him. Despite all the care available, Arthur Owen’s condition deteriorated rapidly. He died in his brother’s house on 21st December 1914, aged 42 years and 4 months. Christopher Lloyd was present at the end and signed the death certificate. The cause of death is given as Phthisis, which was the medical term for consumption. Heart Failure is added as a secondary cause. The saddest aspect of this document is that under “Occupation” it says “Commercial Traveller”. Christopher Lloyd was a sidesman at the Priory Church of St Peter, Dunstable and it was there, on the afternoon of Wednesday 23rd December that the funeral took place. The service was conducted by the Rector of Dunstable, Canon W.W.C.Baker. All the Jones family attended, as did friends of Dr Christopher Lloyd. Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club were represented by John Dixon, William Gunn, A.W.Shelton, Dr Gauld, H.Turner the Secretary and W.Marshall, chief of the Ground Staff. There were many wreaths and floral tributes. Having been described as “Insurance Agent” on his wedding certificate, his children’s birth certificates and as “Commercial Traveller” on his death certificate, he finally received the recognition due to him. The entry in the burial record says “Arthur Owen Jones, Gentleman”. The Dunstable Borough Gazette for 27th October 1920 reported that the grave of the famous cricketer, Mr Arthur Owen Jones, in the Dunstable Cemetery has been marked by the erection of a handsome memorial stone by the Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club. The inscription on the memorial says: R I P Arthur Owen Jones, Born at Shelton, Nottinghamshire, 16th August, 1872. Died at Dunstable 21st December 1914. Notts County Eleven, 1892-1914. Captain 1901-1914. Erected by Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club In memory of a great cricketer. The memorial stone is topped by a Celtic Cross, no doubt as a tribute to his Welsh origins and his close connections with the church. The inscription contains one mistake, A.O.Jones became captain in 1900. Dr Christopher Lloyd died in May 1920 and is buried next to Arthur Owen. The grave of their mother, is close by. A.O.Jones is, by now, a largely forgotten figure. There are several reasons for this. He did not excel at international level, he was at his best on the County circuit. He was a dashing and enterprising cricketer in a generation of dashing and enterprising cricketers, many of whom achieved success at Test match level. Facts and figures do not by themselves convey the vigour of his cricket, which caused him to be held in such high esteem. He did not survive into ripe old age and become an icon to 80