Lives in Cricket No 21 - Walter Read

20 more trouble to their opponents. In the first innings of the twenty, Mr Simpson and Mr Harry Nightingale did excellent service and were warmly applauded but Mr James Nightingale, who had been relied on to do something cut his own career short by the unfortunate imposition of his leg before the wicket. 19 Admission is no longer charged either for Reigate Priory matches or the regular Surrey 2nd XI matches played there, but part of the aforementioned wall forms the southern boundary of the Blue Anchor, the garden of which provides an excellent behind-the-arm vantage point. By 1873, Walter was playing as a regular opening batsman and with Frederick Nightingale producing some outstanding performances which were to lead to a first-class début later in the season. Against Horsham for instance, one of Reigate’s stronger opponents, despite the handicap of toothache, he helped establish a base from which his team were able to build a first innings lead. Read and F Nightingale commenced batting to the bowling of Lloyd and Slade and the fact that the bowling was remarkably good adds to the credit of the batsmen who stood so well against it. Both were in first class form and played with great care not giving a chance until they had put together over 50, and as many as 80 were up before they were separated by Read being finely caught by Lloyd. He was warmly cheered for his innings of 27 which had been finely played while suffering from severe toothache. 20 His opening partner went on to score 83; Reigate replied to Horsham’s 149 with 173 before reducing their opponents to 46 for 5 in the brief time that remained for a second innings. In 1875, William Caffyn, aged 47, put in an appearance in the Reigate v Surrey Club and Ground fixture where “good service was done by Messrs Read…”, the prelude to a season which saw WW score 61 against Brompton and 132 against Wimbledon in consecutive weeks and a benefit match, arranged for his professional cousin of an earlier generation, Eleven Gentlemen of England v Eleven Gentlemen of the Reigate Club, each with two professionals. 21 19 Reigate, Redhill, Dorking and Epsom Journal 16 May 1871 20 Reigate, Redhill, Dorking and Epsom Journal 8 July 1873 21 Reigate, Redhill, Dorking and Epsom Journal 25 May, 15 22 June, 21 September 1875 Reigate Priory