Dick Blaker

Richard Norman Rowsell Blaker, (24 October 1879 – 11 September 1950) was an amateur sportsman who played first-class cricket for Kent County Cricket Club during the Golden Age of cricket prior to the First World War. Blaker won the Military Cross whilst serving as a lieutenant in the Rifle Regiment on the Western Front during the Great War.

Early life Blaker was born in Bayswater in London, the fourth child of solicitor Harry Blaker and his wife Edith Roswell. He attended Westminster School, where he was the captain of the cricket and football teams for four years. He played both sports for Cambridge University, where he attended Jesus College, between 1898 and 1902, gaining Blues in both sports and captaining the University football team in the 1901 varsity match.

Blaker's grandfather, also named Richard, had played first-class cricket for Cambridge in the 1840s. His father was also a cricketer, having played in minor matches for the Gentlemen of Sussex.

First-class cricket career Blaker made his first-class cricket debut in 1898, appearing for Kent against Middlesex at Lord's. He played only twice in 1898 before appearing five times each for Cambridge University and Kent in 1899. From 1900 he made more regular appearances and was awarded his county cap.

Blaker toured the West Indies with RA Bennett's XI in 1901–02, playing in all thirteen first-class matches on the tour. He played for Kent when they won the 1906 County Championship, and played once for Oxfordshire in the Minor Counties Championship and, after the First World War, for the Civil Service cricket team and for his local club, Blackheath. He was on the Kent Committee from 1946 to 1950 and President of the club in 1950, serving in the office when he died.

Football career Blaker was a centre forward who captained both his school team and Cambridge University. He played regularly for Corinthian F.C. in the early years of the 20th century. After training he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Rifle Brigade but immediately fell ill with pneumonia.

Blaker's unit moved into reserve following the attack, and he did not see more front-line service during the war. He was demobilised in February 1919 and resigned his commission in January 1920. Barbara was selected for the England Women's team to tour Australia in 1939/40, but the tour was cancelled after the outbreak of World War II. and was involved in the formation of the Civil Service Cricket Association during the same period. He died in September 1950 at Eltham Hospital following an operation for peritonitis, aged 71.