Lives in Cricket No 51 - Rev ES Carter

95 included here to Lord Hawke and Edmund Peate. Even so, for Carter to have a complete chapter in which to outline his life is an illustration of the interest in him from predominately Yorkshire followers for whom this book was largely intended. Lord Hawke’s later years In late 1907, Carter, then aged 62, still suffering from sciatica or arthritis had decided to leave York for quieter pastures. He had a very long innings in a prominent position at York and was starting to suffer from the strain of it all. But he still had one prominent role to perform. His old friend, Lord Hawke, had been captain of the Yorkshire Eleven for 25 years and a testimonial was proposed for him.. Carter, inevitably, had to be one of the sponsors and he wrote a column in the Yorkshire Evening Post on 16 November. He said: “When the idea of a testimonial from the County Club was first mentioned I then urged that it would be a mistake if at the same time all the cricket living public in the county were not given opportunity for sharing in such a tribute. “I consider Lord Hawke has done more for cricket than any living man, his services not having been confined to this county or this country. They have extended to India, America and South Africa. I think to Lord Hawke may be largely attributed the smart and uniform style in which professional teams are now turned out. He was one of the first to turn his men out in uniforms, and I believe that he provided the first lot of jackets and caps himself. The esprit de corps in his team is splendid. Every man recognises that it is his duty to play for the success of his side and not for his personal glory. “By accident I believe I had something to do with introducing the present Lord Hawke to the cricketing public of the county. In the old days when Lord Londesborough left it to me to invite amateurs to take part in the Scarborough Festival I asked the then Hon. M.B.Hawke to play for Yorkshire, and the year after he took his place in the county team. Lord Hawke has told me since that it was the best day’s work that I ever did for him.” Old Ebor, Hawke, Thwing