Thomas Belcher (cricketer)

Thomas Hayes Belcher (12 September 1847 — 26 November 1919) was an English first-class cricketer, clergyman and schoolmaster.

Thomas Belcher

Personal information
Full name	Thomas Hayes Belcher
Born	12 September 1847 Faringdon, Berkshire, England
Died	26 November 1919 (aged 72) Bramley, Hampshire, England
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Right-arm roundarm fast
Relations	Gordon Belcher (son)
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1869–1870	Oxford University
Career statistics
Competition First-class Matches 7 Runs scored 58 Batting average 11.60 100s/50s –/– Top score 23 Balls bowled 1,173 Wickets 20 Bowling average 20.57 5 wickets in innings – 10 wickets in match – Best bowling 4/22 Catches/stumpings 4/–
Source: Cricinfo, 19 January 2020

Belcher was born at Faringdon in September 1847. He studied on a scholarship in classics at The Queen's College, Oxford.[1] While studying at Oxford, he played first-class cricket for Oxford University on seven occasions in 1869–70.[2] A right-arm roundarm fast bowler, Belcher took 20 wickets at an average of 20.57, with best figures of 4 for 22.[3] Upon graduating from Oxford he took holy orders and became a schoolmaster. He initially taught at the Hereford Cathedral School for two years, and for seven years thereafter he was the senior assistant master at Malvern College. In 1881, he was elected to the post of principal of Brighton College, a role he held until 1892.[4] He retired in 1892 and upon doing so he became the rector of St James' Church at Bramley, Hampshire.[5] He remained in the post of rector until his death in November 1919.[6] His son, Gordon, also played first-class cricket. Gordon and two other sons, Harold and Raymond were killed in the First World War, while his son Arthur was the headmaster of Brighton College in 1933.

Thomas Belcher's sister Marian Belcher (1849-1898) was headmistress at Bedford High School.[7]

References

1. Foster, Joseph (1891). Alumni Oxonienses. Parker and Company. p. 88.
2. "First-Class Matches played by Thomas Belcher". CricketArchive. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
3. "First-class Bowling For Each Team by Thomas Belcher". CricketArchive. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
4. The Academy. 19. J. Murray. 1881. p. 472.
5. Page, William (1907). The Victoria History of the County of Sussex. 2. Constable. p. 431.
6. "Wisden - Other obituaries in 1919". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
7. Hunt, Felicity (2004). "Belcher, Mary Anne [Marian] (1849–1898), headmistress". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/48640. Retrieved 2 March 2020. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

External links

• Thomas Belcher at ESPNcricinfo