Famous Cricketers No 67 - Ivo Bligh

then that apart from two matches in Scotland in 1893 he had not played any cricket since the summer of 1884. In 1894 his chief sport was golf, which he began to play ‘on doctor’s orders’ in 1888. He did however continue his interest in Kent cricket and was President of the County Club in 1892 and again in 1902 - he was also President of MCC in 1900. In 1896, his father, the 6th Earl died. He seems to have been a strict father and husband in what we now consider the Victorian manner and very conscious of his position in society. Ivo Bligh’s eldest brother, Edward, Lord Clifton, succeeded as the 7th Earl. He was described as a complete contrast to his father, having a fearsome temper and being profligate - he spent money like water and the fortunes of the Darnleys disappeared rapidly. Fortunately for the family silver the 7th Earl died on 31st October 1900, less than four years after inheriting the title and the Cobham estate. Ivo Bligh succeeded as the 8th Earl. By a coincidence, he was President of MCC in the same year. Bligh had been a member of the MCC Committee from 1890 to 1893 and again as Lord Darnley from 1901 to 1904. He was a member of the Kent County Cricket Club Committee commencing in 1880, then later a vice-President until his death. Away from the cricket field, he was Deputy Lieutenant and County Alderman for Kent, as well as, from 1905, a representative peer for Ireland in the House of Lords. He was an active supporter of the Conservative Party. The 8th Earl and his family moved out of Cobham Hall in the early 1920s and settled at nearby Puckle Hill House. The Earl died there on April 10, 1927. His death, from a heart attack, was very unexpected - he had played golf the previous afternoon. His wife, the Countess, was made a Dame of the British Empire in 1919 and sat on many local committees, as well as being President of several. She died in Henley on Thames on August 30, 1944 and is buried at Cobham Church along with Ivo. Following his death, Florence had presented the Ashes Urn to the MCC. 1877 After playing for Eton in the summer term, Bligh was given a place in the Kent side for the county’s final two matches of the summer. Both matches were won by Kent and with a total of seven wins from twelve county games the side had their best summer since the 1860s. Wisden noted: “This large measure of success, as compared with several preceding campaigns, was mainly due to the patriotic loyalty to their County and Captain of the Gentlemen cricketers of Kent, who form the batting strength of the County.” The Captain was the formidable Lord Harris, who effectively dragged Kent out of the doldrums. Bligh’s part in the 1877 campaign was a minor one, but as a teenager, his agility in the field was certainly of use, even if it is impossible to measure. Own Team O M R W Opp Ct Total Total 1. Kent v Lancashire, Maidstone, August 23, 24 (Kent won by one wicket) c A.Appleby b W.McIntyre 15 112 86 b W.McIntyre 1 118-9 143 2. Kent v Nottinghamshire, Trent Bridge, August 27, 28, 29 (Kent won by an innings and 12 runs) run out 4 186 65 109 SEASON’S AVERAGES Batting and Fielding M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct Kent 2 3 0 20 15 6.66 - - - 7