Frank Gillingham

Frank Gillingham
Personal information
Full name
Frank Hay Gillingham
Born(1875-09-06)6 September 1875
Tokyo, Japan
Died1 April 1953(1953-04-01) (aged 77)
Monaco
BattingRight-handed
RoleWicket-keeper
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1903–1928Essex
Career statistics
Competition FC
Matches 210
Runs scored 10050
Batting average 30.64
100s/50s 19/-
Top score 201
Balls bowled 8
Wickets 0
Bowling average
5 wickets in innings
10 wickets in match
Best bowling
Catches/stumpings 111/1
Source: Cricinfo, 23 July 2013

Frank Hay Gillingham (6 September 1875 – 1 April 1953) was an English cricketer. He played for Essex between 1903 and 1928.[1]

Born in Tokyo to John Rowley Gillingham and his wife Sarah (nee Archer), he was educated at Dulwich College and Durham University. He worked in the City of London for a while but, after training for ordination at the London College of Divinity,[2] was ordained as a deacon in 1899 and priest in 1900 and became curate of Leyton (1899-1905).[3] He later became an army chaplain with the 2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers at Tidworth from 1905 to 1907[4] then again a curate at St James-the-Less, Bethnal Green, (1907-1910).[5] He was then successively Vicar of Holy Trinity Church, Bordesley (1910-1914), Rector of St Mary Magdalen Bermondsey (1914-1923), Rector of St Margaret's, Lee (1923-1940).[6][7] and Rector of St Stephen Walbrook (1940-1953).[8] He was a Temporary Chaplain to the Forces during the First World War.[9] He was a Chaplain to the Royal Household from 1940 to 1953.[10]

As an amateur cricketer he was a member of the Essex XI who in 1905 beat the Australians at Leyton by 19 runs. He went on to tour Jamaica with the Hon. L H Tennyson's team in 1927. That year he also made the first ball-by-ball cricket commentary for the BBC, speaking for a total of 25 minutes over four sessions. He was reportedly fired by BBC chairman Lord Reith for reading advertisement placards out on air to fill time during a rain break.[11]

References

  1. ^ "Frank Gillingham". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  2. ^ Crockford's Clerical Directory, 1932, p 491.
  3. ^ Crockford's Clerical Directory, 1932, p 491.
  4. ^ Crockford's Clerical Directory, 1932, p 491.
  5. ^ Crockford's Clerical Directory, 1932, p 491.
  6. ^ Crockford's Clerical Directory, 1932, p 491.
  7. ^ "Church Times: "Clerical Obituary", 10 April 1953, p 280". Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  8. ^ "Church Times: "Clerical Obituary", 10 April 1953, p 280". Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  9. ^ Crockford's Clerical Directory, 1932, p 491.
  10. ^ "Church Times: "Clerical Obituary", 10 April 1953, p 280". Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  11. ^ "The birth of ball-by-ball cricket commentary on BBC". Archived from the original on 27 August 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2013.