Percy Baker

Percy Charles Baker (2 May 1874 – 30 December 1939) was an English amateur cricketer who played for Kent County Cricket Club. He was born in Bromley in Kent and played for Beckenham Cricket Club. His performances for Beckenham earned him a trial for Kent and he played 41 first-class cricket matches for the county between 1900 and 1902. He was a right-handed batsman.

Early life Baker was born at Bromley in Kent, one of the six sons and two daughters of Alfred and Alice Baker. His father was a stockbroker and Baker attended Uppingham School from September 1887, although he did not play regularly for the school cricket team. He went up to Christ Church, Oxford in 1892, graduating in 1896 before becoming a stockbroker himself.

Cricket career Baker played club cricket for Beckenham alongside his brothers Alfred and Herbert. He established a reputation as an "aggressive, hard-driving batsman" in club cricket, Baker scored 1,600 runs for the county, including two centuries, and was awarded his county cap in 1900.

War service Baker was 40 at the outbreak of World War I in August 1914 and was not eligible to serve until the age of conscription was raised to 51 in 1918. He enlisted in the Essex Regiment in April 1918, serving in the 18th Battalion of the regiment, a home service battalion in a garrison role at Great Yarmouth. Baker died in Northwood in December 1939 aged 65.