Lives in Cricket No 25 - Tom Richardson

118 Bout-du-Monde Without in any way wishing to take the place of the number of admirers of our greatest bowler and a fine gentleman, all over the country, who will most assuredly desire to contribute to this fund when the tragic circumstances of Tom Richardson’s last days are brought home to them. I will personally, if there is any doubt about the necessary money being found, take upon myself all charges in connection with the bringing home of his body to England. ST JOHN HARMSWORTH The Editor replied immediately: Gratefully accept your generous offer. Rest of subscriptions will be set apart for dependents. EDITOR, “SPORTING LIFE” but continued to press for funds for the dependents: Tom Richardson will, therefore, have his wish granted: he will be buried in the land of his birth … The duty to the dead will now be carried out. What of the duty to the living? Tom Richardson, as we mentioned in our original appeal, has left several dependents, including three children, who are not old enough to earn their own livelihood. Let us repeat with all emphasis that Tom Richardson, although generous and kind-hearted was never prodigal of his substance, and such resources as he had were drained in recent years by ill-health. 276 Later appeals drop any reference to the other dependents, but continue to mention the children. There is no mention of his widow. The coffin arrived at Victoria Station on the afternoon of Thursday 11 July and the funeral took place at Richmond two days later. In deference to Richardson’s wishes, those attending were asked to wear ‘complimentary’ rather than ‘deep’ mourning. For one shortly past his fortieth birthday to express such a wish as well as stating where he wished to be buried suggests that he was well aware that his ill-health could lead to a premature death. All the other donations went into a trust fund for the family. Surrey donated £50: 277 it is recorded in the Accounts for 1912, adjacent to an amount just 1/2 more for the hire and keep of a horse. There is no mention of Richardson in the annual report though the ‘regrettable death’ of a committee member features. 278 The eventual total of £174 included contributions from many of his former colleagues and fellow licensees in Richmond and 14/- from a whip-round in the public bar of the Prince’s Head . Corœbus of the Morning Advertiser , in a feature also reproduced in the local Mitcham Advertiser , gave an outstandingly complimentary tribute, and one which rarely for the period, (though the advent of the Daily Mail and the beginnings of tabloid journalism in the late nineteenth century, was 276 Sporting Life 11 July 1912 277 Surrey CCC minutes 18 July, 1 August and 5 September 1912 278 Surrey CCC Yearbook 1912 pp 55,58 and 59