Lives in Cricket No 44 - LCH Palairet

as he scored 353 runs at 29.5. He also scored his second hundred, making an unbeaten 119 against Lincoln Ludlum. It was as a bowler that he made his biggest impact, as he took 56 wickets at 12.6. Despite a better batting record, Fry and his younger brother’s averages were almost ten more than his. So being despite finishing on a high his batting was in the shadow of his younger brother and Fry who was two years his junior. The school’s sports day was reported in great detail in the local press. Lionel won the steeplechase and broke the school record time in winning the half mile. For the overall sports prize he lost out to Fry by ten points (410 to 400). In June the school held its annual speech day. It filled half a page in the local Derby Mercury as it listed the whole day’s events and prizes to individuals plus many of the notable guests. His, father, stepmother, brother and sisters were in attendance. Lionel took part in a short play called ‘Les Plaideurs’ taking the part of Le Souffleur; CB Fry appeared with him. As school captain he also presented some prizes and won first prize for his Greek verse. The headmaster finished with wishing the departing students well for the future. Lionel would now be looking forward to Oxford University and would have had hopes of becoming a first class cricketer. Before starting university Lionel had time to return home to Somerset and play some more cricket. He guested for a number of sides, his best performance being 42 and 111 for WH Laverton’s eleven versus Bradford Wanderers. As a result of this he was chosen to make his debut for Somerset against the MCC at Lord’s on August 12, a non-first class match, scheduled over two days. He was chosen as wicketkeeper; this seems odd as he had taken so many wickets for Repton earlier in the year and of the scorecards that exist there is no evidence of him being a wicketkeeper at the school. He would though later occasionally keep for Somerset and generally seems to have been capable behind the stumps. Batting first the MCC made only 67 with Lionel making a stumping off Ted Tyler. Somerset fared no better being skittled for 64. Lionel batting at five was bowled by Jim Phillips for two. Phillips was an Australian who came to England and played for Early life and Repton 16