owing to his having (at least, so it was said) 'sold' the England v. Nottingham match of that year by not playing his best. He, however, continued to participate in minor matches at Reigate and the vicinity till he was about sixty years of age, but the scores of these are nearly all lost. His actual last match took place, it is believed, in 1839, at Crabbet Park, the seat of Mr. Blunt, at Worth, near Crawley, it being a gentlemen's match of no great note. About 1837—8 and 9 also, his son, Alfred Lambert, played for Reigate; and, owing to the absence of initials in the old scores, it will sometimes be found impossible to say which of the two is playing. He (W. L.) was born at Burstow, in Surrey, but resided at Nutfield, in the same county, where he followed the occupation of a miller; but he was also in the fuller's earth trade, having several men in his employ. His height was 5ft. 10 in., and his weight was 15st., being also a very powerful man. Latterly he was a great ringer. He died at Nutfield, April 19, 1851, aged 72, but is buried at Burstow. No tombstone has been erected to the memory of this famous man.[1]
Lamborn's first recorded match was in 1777, and he appears only to have played for five seasons. John Nyren, in his book, calls him Lambert, which, however, is no doubt a mistake, as in the old score-book the name is spelt Lamborn throughout. He was always called 'The Little Farmer', and was a right-handed bowler, with an extraordinary delivery and twist from the off to the leg. He taught himself by (when tending his father's sheep) setting up a hurdle or two, and bowling away for hours together . . . He was, it is believed, a Surrey man; but
- ↑ I may add to this that from information I received from an old neighbour of mine, a cousin of Lambert's, I know him to have played in local matches after 1839. Lambert's name was put to a manual on the game published at Lewes in 1816, the frontispiece of which I reproduce opposite p. 216. It is a book without character, and was probably the work of the publisher or of some very dull journalist. E.V.L.
