Lives in Cricket No 44 - LCH Palairet

Coming so soon after their mother’s death this was another tragic blow to the family. The press at the time was full of sympathy towards the family; thought must also be given to the poor governess who would have had to live with this for the rest of her life, she almost certainly would have blamed herself for this terrible accident. By 1882 Lionel’s father married again, this time to Charlotte Ellen Rooke (1854-1922). The couple were married at Rampisham, Dorset. Charlotte was the second daughter of Rev FJ Rooke, Rector at Rampisham; the couple would remain together until Charlotte died 40 years later. Then in 1884 Lionel’s uncle Captain Charles Palairet, now a magistrate, lost his wife in June when she was travelling by carriage (Mrs Palairet was driving) with a friend. When the horse was startled, and bolted suddenly as a result, the passenger Miss Gilbert Smith was thrown into the road and killed instantly. Mrs Palairet was also thrown into the road and was seriously injured on impact. Captain Palairet arrived after about an hour, and his wife died almost immediately in his arms; the attending doctor was Dr Edward Grace (brother of the famous WG). The accident was at Berkeley in Gloucestershire which is near Thornbury where Dr Grace was practising. The death of Mrs Palairet resulted in her leaving a son (aged eight), and a daughter (aged two). She was also pregnant at the time of her death, and was only 28. By 1886, Lionel had left his early education in Somerset and moved to Repton, the prestigious public school in Derbyshire. It is believed the school started in 1557 on the site of the former Repton Priory. The school has a proud history particularly in sport as well as producing many famous cricketers. It was while at Repton that Lionel developed his cricket, football and athletics, becoming a well-known personality at the school during his stay. The first known match that exists with Lionel playing is a game against Uppingham School, on June 23 and 24, 1886. Lionel batted at six for the school and made nine and 40. However the school lost a close match by nine runs; WF Whitwell took 13 wickets for Uppingham. Repton’s school captain for the year was Francis Ford who played for Middlesex and five times for England. The only other innings that survives for this year is Early life and Repton 12