of the stumps was 18 inches by 6 for practice, but in matches 22 inches by 6. In April, 1858, when he had completed his 92nd year, he was visited by the Compiler of this book, who found him at work in his garden before 8 o'clock in the morning. He was then well and hearty, very little deaf, and slightly blind with one eye, did not stoop in the least, or require a stick to walk with. On June 21, 1852, when 86 years of age, he walked from Tilford to Godalming, a distance of about 7 miles, to see the match there between England and Godalming. Beldham is the last surviving member of the once far-famed Hambledon Club, and no cricketer of note ever reached so great an age, though cricketers generally, and the Hambledon players especially, seem to have lived long. A photograph portrait of the above remarkable man, taken when he was 91 years of age, is in possession of the Compiler of this work. Beldham was still alive when this book went to press, having reached the patriarchal age of 96, and still residing (with his wife) at Tilford. 'Take him for all in all, we ne'er shall look upon his like again.'[1]
William Bowra (pronounced, it is believed, Borra) was rather successful in the few matches in which his name is found; but he does not seem to have played more than thirteen seasons. He was one of the gamekeepers of the Duke of Dorset, and lived in consequence at Knowle, near Sevenoaks. 'The Duke' used often to sit on the railings looking on the Vine and watch him playing, frequently saying 'Bravo, my little
- ↑ I take from Oxford Memories the following:—'If Beldham, as I said, could master Brown at fifty-four, it is easy to believe what Fennex said—that Beldham was by far the best of his day, "hitting quick as lightning all round him, the very model of a batsman"; and it was said that Lord Frederick Beauclerk was formed after him. Beldham's was a green old age. Even when between sixty and seventy he was barred in county matches. When eighty-six years of age he was brought as an interesting relic of the old game into the pavilion at Lord's, much to the gratification of the few old gentlemen who remembered him.'—E.V.L.
