Lives in Cricket No 34 - Frank Mitchell

70 Before the journey to South Africa there was a final relaxed cricket tour to enjoy, again to North America. His friend B.J.T.Bosanquet of Eton, Middlesex and Oxford University was to lead that short tour. Mitchell was glad to join him though he would then have to miss the traditional festival matches that Yorkshire always then played at the end of each season. Other team members on the Bosanquet tour were R.O.Schwarz, also later to work in South Africa, and Arthur Priestley, recently elected Liberal MP for Grantham. Presumably his constituents did not mind his going abroad for upwards of 40 days to play cricket. From 1914 to 1917 Priestley (by then Sir Arthur) was Mayor of Grantham, an office later occupied by Alderman Alfred Roberts, father of the more famous Margaret. Mitchell may have already enjoyed country house cricket on Priestley’s delightful ground at Hungerton Hall, six miles outside Grantham. The prospect of a twelve day voyage, playing four matches in the next 17 days, then another voyage back home, could only appeal to the fittest of young men but seemingly Frank Mitchell was up to the challenge. Two of the four games were designated as first-class, both being against the Gentlemen of Philadelphia at Philadelphia and then Germantown. Mitchell’s scores would have been marginally disappointing for him, four innings for 100 runs. He then had to leave the team early (they going on into Canada) so that he could come back to England, catch a scheduled liner to South Africa, and start a new phase in his life. A remarkable season, and a lost opportunity 1901-02 Bosanquet’s team in late 1901 to the United States was the final act to a wonderful year of cricket for Frank Mitchell. Standing: R.O.Schwarz, E.R.Wilson, E.M.Dowson, A.M.Hollins, P.R.Johnson. Seated: A.Priestley, R.E.More, B.J.T.Bosanquet, F.Mitchell, V.F.S.Crawford. Ground: I.U.Parkin, W.E.Harrison.