Lancashire player number 55 - Winder, George Alexander by Don Ambrose

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Player:

GA Winder

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Lancashire 1869
Born 16.7.1850 Ainsworth House, Bolton.
Died 1.2.1913 Ottery St.Mary, Devon.

 

He was educated at Rossall, as were his two elder brothers, Charles James Winder and Frederick Ainsworth Winder. He played in the School cricket and football elevens and in the 1870 Lillywhite's Companion he is described as having "safe and pretty defence, can always be depended on for runs: splendid field; good slow bowler."

 

He was only 5ft. 4 inches tall and weighed just over 9 stone. He was a right handed batsman.

 

At about the time he left school, in July 1869, he accompanied the Lancashire team to London and played his first first-class match against the M.C.C. at Lord's on the 19th and 20th. He scored 7 and 0. He went on to The Oval, scoring 7 and 9 against Surrey.

 

On 11th and 12th July 1870 he played for the Gentlemen of Lancashire against the Gentlemen of Warwickshire, opening the batting with S.H.Swire and scoring 39 and 31. He also took four wickets. He played against the Gentlemen of Warwickshire again the following season at Warwick, scoring 33 in his only innings.

 

He went up to Christ's College, Cambridge, turning out for the University on one occasion in 1871. In that year he played his last first-class match for the Gentlemen of the North.

 

In January 1872, when he was out shooting, his gun exploded and he lost his left hand as a result. Lillywhite's Companion for 1873 reported "he most unfortunately lost his left hand last winter, or he would probably have played for his University, as it was he astonished every-one with his wonderful play with one hand; he is a good underhand bowler."

 

He eventually gained his B.A. in 1875 and in 1880 became the land agent for Sir J.H.Kennaway, Bart., M.P., of Fairmile, Ottery St.Mary.

 

At the time of the 1881 Census he was lodging at Lash Brook Farm, Talaton, Devon, aged 30 unmarried, an M.A. Cambridge Estate Agent. This is the home of Deinas E. Lush, aged 56, a farmer of 150 acres, his wife Mary Ann, aged 48, and their seven children.

 

(Article: Copyright © 2004 Don Ambrose)