Lives in Cricket No 51 - Rev ES Carter

Old Ebor, Hawke, Thwing 100 of York and almost on a direct road to Bridlington, and indeed not too far off a route from York to Scarborough. This gentle village lies in fine East Yorkshire farming land and the nearest small town is Driffield, ten miles away; home to David Byas, born in the parish of Kilham adjoining Thwing, and captain of the Yorkshire championship side of 2001. The church, dating back to the 12th century with its squat tower and pleasant churchyard lies on the slope of high ground away from the main street of the village, opposite the entrance to a farm. Another farm lies just up the narrow lane. A wholly rural setting. No doubt 100 years ago there was a village shop, and there was certainly a public house. Transport might be by horse and trap to Driffield where there was a station and trains to carry passengers on three separate lines primarily to and from Bridlington and Scarborough or Hull, less frequently to Selby and Market Weighton, or by modest branch line to Malton. There was no direct service to York. The Reverend Carter had to cater for the spiritual needs of more than 600 adults and there was no question of being a vicar of another parish. Thwing had one notable connection with the Church of England, it being the birthplace of Thomas Lamplugh, a late Archbishop of York. Edmund Carter had been given the living of Thwing by an old friend, who in 1908 happened to be Lord Chancellor! Robert Reid was the Oxford wicketkeeper in the side in which Edmund Carter also played against Cambridge in 1867, and indeed took a catch off Carter’s bowling. Years later when they were on opposing sides Carter whilst bowling broke Reid’s finger, no doubt causing some pain in the process. Reid later became a Liberal MP, and in time Solicitor-General, and then Attorney-General. When a vacancy arose in 1905 in the office of Lord Chancellor, Reid was appointed taking the title of Lord Loreburn. When not appointing high court judges, or members of the Court of Appeal, he had to fill ecclesiastical appointments in those parishes where the Lord Chancellor was patron of the living. Thwing was one such appointment, and in offering the position to Carter, Loreburn wrote: “You see I bear no malice for that finger of mine you broke ever so many years ago. The church, containing a recumbent monument to a Baron de