Lives in Cricket No 26 - HV Hesketh-Prichard

91 ducal joke, as he was, of course, an Old Etonian. In 1908 Hex played for Easton Ramblers against Framlingham College Masters, scoring nought but taking four wickets, and for the Marquess of Graham’s XII against Free Foresters, taking a couple of wickets. Hex was to be close to the Graham family and Lady Helen Graham, a sister of the Marquess, illustrated Hunting Camps in Wood and Wilderness . Hex then returned to duty. In August 1908 there are copies of extracts from a couple of letters headed ‘IZ week in Ireland’. Hex writes on 21 August that ‘we finished off the military by 12 yesterday. I send scores.’ IZ scored 244 and Hex then took six for 19 as the Military of Ireland were bowled out for 51. In a second innings they made 134, Hex taking three for 23. The next note says ‘Today we won easily. I am not allowed to bowl much as they went out too quick. Got 3 for 23 for tomorrow . ’ The Irish Times carried a report of a twelve-a-side game against Sir John Kennedy’s side in which Hex took seven for 52 and none for 25. Kate adds a note: ‘This often happened in IZ or private weeks; at Shugborough he was seldom allowed to bowl more than one over at a time!’ Shugborough in Staffordshire was the seat of the Earls of Lichfield and is now owned by the National Trust. At the time it was the seat of Thomas Francis Anson, the third Earl (1856- 1918). He was a keen cricketer, but appears to have led an undistinguished life, though he died following a shooting accident in 1918. His son, as mentioned above, was also an ADC to the Lord Lieutenant. Another letter from the Viceregal Lodge, dated ‘1908’, refers in some detail to a match against ‘a military team’ so certainly could be the one referred to on 21 August. Hex says: As to cricket, we won the toss and made 241. I felt like runs and hit two fours, and was then given out caught at the wicket. Their slip said I had not hit within a foot of the ball – rather sickening. The wicket keeper apologised for asking afterwards. The second time this year that this has happened. Then they went in and I bowled Elizabeth and nothing else [sic]. Once I got three in four balls all bowled, and one snuffed the wicket seven yards. My arm hurt at first, but it wore off, and I got 6 for 19. They said before this match that they were the strongest military team they had ever had. I twice knocked the stumps like this … with the fastest Elizabeth. They said it was the best bowling they had seen this year. Well, there is enough about it. I didn’t want to bowl, but I heard there is a chance of someone subbing for me Wednesday, Thursday and Friday so I tried hard. Later in this letter: Teddy [Wynyard] is I think hopeless. We have agreed to differ about Bernard and my coming. I have spoken my mind. When I had done he said ‘Don’t you think you had better go and have a bath?’ A cold one I suppose. Did I tell you that he offered to let me go back at once? He is funny. A good pal, and his own worst enemy, poor Teddy. One of the scrapbooks contains an advertisement for 1d cricket balls, annotated – presumably by Hex – with ‘used by Wynyard when bowling – Married Man