Lives in Cricket No 21 - Walter Read

26 In a 203-run win, he had scored 42 and 160, and keeping wicket, taken a couple of catches and made a stumping. Although captain of the Club at Reigate and on the committee in 1882, he played for them very little. His brother, Arthur had taken over as Joint Secretary with James Nightingale, but the time was coming when Walter’s commitment to the Priory Club would be superseded by that to the county and to England. He was, however, sufficiently valued by the club to be presented with ‘a gold watch and chain, valued at nearly £70, a present from the members which I greatly value.’ 34 A press advertisement for the week indicates a progression to three two-day matches, against MCC, Gentleman of Surrey and Kennington Park. At the dinner that year, Read felt obliged to defend himself against what he perceived to be unjust accusations. MR W.W. READ responded first, by saying that he always tried to do what he could for the Priory Club and to further cricket in the neighbourhood, and he repudiated a suggestion that had reached his ears, that the cricket week was established in order that his friends might come down there and play. The playing members of the club had so increased that a cricket week was absolutely necessary to give them all an opportunity of playing during the season. Within a few weeks of the end of the 1882 season, Walter was off to Australia with Ivo Bligh, and his appointment as Assistant Secretary at Surrey in 1881 and ipso facto as a full-time player with the county meant the balance between club and county had already changed. In the debate between Reigate and Surrey as to whether part of cricket week might be devoted to a county fixture he was firmly on the side of the county which took the view that it should not. The ‘week’ continued to thrive in the early 1880s and when not required by the county, Read was a regular participant. In 1882 the Club had played MCC, Gentlemen of Surrey and Kempton Park, three two-day matches and part of a now fairly regular pattern, but because of diminished support and frustration at not being able to obtain a county fixture it was discontinued not long afterwards, then resurrected on a grander scale with more distinguished participants and quasi-first-class matches. 34 Annals of Cricket p 169 Reigate, Redhill, Dorking and Epsom Journal Reigate Priory