Arthur Fulcher

Arthur William Fulcher (7 May 1855 – 17 May 1932) was an English businessman, soldier, sailor, and cricketer. He played seven first-class cricket matches for Kent County Cricket Club, was a member of the Royal Yacht Squadron and served in both the Royal Navy Reserve and British Army during World War I.

Early life Fulcher was born at Pau in south-west France in 1855, the second son of Edward and Caroline Fulcher (née Green). His father was a captain in the 87th Royal Irish Fusiliers and Fulcher and educated at Westminster School between 1868 and 1872. He played cricket at school and was considered a good club cricketer.

Cricket A successful batsman for clubs such as Sevenoaks Vine, The Mote, Tunbridge Well, I Zingari, and Band of Brothers, Fulcher made seven first-class appearances for Kent between 1878 and 1887. He had played for Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) from 1876, and made his first-class debut for the county against Nottinghamshire at Town Malling in June 1878. He made two further top-level appearances during the season, both against Hampshire, scoring 44 not out at Tunbridge Wells, an innings that remained his highest first-class score throughout his career.

Fulcher did not play for Kent again until the mid-1880s. In good batting form at club level, he made a number of high scores during the 1880s, including 224 for The Mote against the Royal West Kent Regiment in 1886. He played once for the county against Derbyshire at The Note later in the season, before making his final three first-class appearances during 1887. He scored a total of 156 first-class runs and continued to play for The Mote into the 1890s. The vessel patrolled the waters of the Hebrides as part of the naval blockade of Germany. (Hersilia was wrecked in the Hebrides in 1916.) Both sons served in the army during World War I, Eric winning the Military Cross.

Fulcher lived at Bearsted in Kent, at Billericay in Essex, and at Redenham House near Andover in Hampshire.