Page:The Hambledon Men (1907).djvu/286

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THE HAMBLEDON MEN

vault at Ravenstone, in Buckinghamshire, but no monument has been erected to his memory. He was educated at Eton.


William Yalden was a licensed victualler of Chertsey, and managed the famous Laleham-Burway ground situated close to the town, supplying refreshments during the great matches. He is mentioned in Nyren's book, as being a wicket-keeper opposed to the Hambledon Club, but no record (except in one instance) is found of his having stumped any one out. The same occurs with Tom Sueter of the Hambledon Club, and therefore it is believed that stumping out was first scored down as 'run out' or 'put out'. He left off cricket for one season because he thought his eyesight was failing, but the Earl of Tankerville saying to him 'Try again, Yalden', he resumed play with better success than before. He once when fielding, jumped over a fence, and when on his back still caught the ball!!! He was born at Chertsey (or according to another account at Ripley), in Surrey, in 1740, but died at Chertsey, January 1824, aged 84. Height 5ft. 10in. and weight 12st. 7lbs. No tombstone existed in 1858, to his memory. He had a son alive in 1859, at Chertsey, who curiously enough had then also attained the great age of 84 years.


Nyren speaks also of John Wood and May. Mr. Haygarth writes:—

There were two Mays, noted cricketers, whose names will be found a few times in these pages; but no doubt most of their best performances are lost. Owing to the initials being frequently omitted in the old scores, it is impossible to distinguish one from the other in every match.

Tom was for batting, Dick for bowling famed.

Of Thomas, nothing could be discovered; and of Richard, all that could be gleaned was, that he died