Frederick Wilding

Frederick Wilding (20 November 1852 – 5 July 1945) played first-class cricket for Canterbury in the 1880s and 1890s. He also played tennis and was a noted athlete.

Early life Wilding was born in Montgomery, Wales in 1852. His father, John Powell Wilding (1812–1872), was a surgeon. His mother was Harriet . He was educated at Hereford Cathedral School in Hereford and at Shrewsbury School in Shrewsbury, England. He gained admission as a solicitor in 1874. Their house, "Fownhope" in St Martins, Christchurch, had two tennis courts, an asphalt winter court and a summer grass court. He founded Wilding Park, which is today the largest tennis centre in Canterbury.

Their son Tony Wilding, was a world champion tennis player, and played cricket for Canterbury, but was killed in action during the First World War. Their daughter Cora Wilding was an artist and outdoor enthusiast, and founded the Youth Hostel Association of New Zealand in 1932.

He died, aged 92, in Christchurch on 5 July 1945, and was buried at Bromley Cemetery.