Lives in Cricket No 13 - AP Lucas

Chapter Nine The man and the cricketer If, as seems likely, Lucas did get into financial difficulties, the conscientious way in which he attempted to meet his obligations was of a piece with his character, and contrasted starkly with the behaviour of his brother Percy. He had a great respect for rules and conventions, so the orthodoxy of his batting was matched by that of his deep Anglican faith. In photographs he is invariably well turned out, either in smart cricket gear or a well-tailored three-piece suit. Though no pushover in adversity, he was genuinely honest and humble in character. He seems to have earned the respect and even affection of all who knew him, and I have found no one who had a bad word to say for him. Devout churchman An institution even more important to Lucas than the Stock Exchange was the Church of England, which was always a priority for him. In 1880 the Uppingham Rovers reached Brighton at lunchtime on a Sunday: ‘No sooner did Bunny arrive at the Norfolk than he went to sleep, and woke not until 7 pm when he went to hear Mr Wagner and was much edified, though he had forgotten the text.’ Rev Arthur Wagner was the Vicar of Brighton, a controversial Anglo-Catholic who was also famous for his generosity towards the poor of the town, building some 400 houses mostly at his own expense. Back in Brighton the following year, Lucas made sure he did not fall off to sleep but straightaway carried out his duty of attending church. He then felt free after dinner to go out with the Rovers to listen to the music on the Pier: ‘Bunny feeling annoyed that the band did not offer The Lost Chord , Tom politely offered him a piece of string as a substitute.’ Lucas’s obituary in the Leytonstone Express and Independent summarised his contribution to church life in Essex: He went to live in Chelmsford in 1887 and quickly became a popular and esteemed figure, not only in sporting circles, but in church work, for he was churchwarden at St Mary’s (now the Cathedral) for many years, and later, when he removed to Fryerning, he held a similar office at Fryerning church … . At Chelmsford Cathedral on Sunday morning Canon Lake made sympathetic allusion to the passing of Mr Lucas, recalling how keen and assiduous the deceased gentleman was in his duties as churchwarden. He was also humble and unselfish in everything, and it was a pleasure to work for him and with him. … Mr Lucas never let athletics interfere 74