Vernon Royle
Encyclopedia
The Reverend Vernon Peter Fanshawe Archer Royle (born 29 January 1854 in Cheshire
, England
; died 21 May 1929 in Middlesex
, England
). He was the son of Dr. Peter Royle and Marina Fanshawe. He played cricket for Oxford University and Lancashire
. He was a member of Lord Harris's cricket
team to tour Australia
in 1878/9. His fielding won considerable praise (He was ambidextrous, very quick on his feet, with a smart return, and a dead sure catch.); he is generally regarded as being the greatest "cover point" of all time, and many books have described the fear he engendered in batsmen when on the pitch. Only a rash batsman dared to try for a quick run. A remark of Tom Emmett’s, the famous Yorkshire cricketer, is worth recalling, "Woa, mate, there’s a policeman," he said when his partner called him for a short run while Royle was at cover point.
However, after the tour he retired from cricket and took up teaching. He was later ordained. He became headmaster of Elstree School
and subsequently Stanmore Park school.
Royle kept a diary of his tour, which has now been published. In it he outlines the lavish welcome afforded the touring party, which was one of the great benefits of the tour. Royle also briefly mentions his views on the Sydney Riot of 1879
. He was president of the Lancashire County Cricket Club.
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
; died 21 May 1929 in Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
). He was the son of Dr. Peter Royle and Marina Fanshawe. He played cricket for Oxford University and Lancashire
Lancashire County Cricket Club
Lancashire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Lancashire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1864 as a successor to Manchester Cricket Club and has played at Old Trafford since then...
. He was a member of Lord Harris's cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
team to tour Australia
Australian cricket team
The Australian cricket team is the national cricket team of Australia. It is the joint oldest team in Test cricket, having played in the first Test match in 1877...
in 1878/9. His fielding won considerable praise (He was ambidextrous, very quick on his feet, with a smart return, and a dead sure catch.); he is generally regarded as being the greatest "cover point" of all time, and many books have described the fear he engendered in batsmen when on the pitch. Only a rash batsman dared to try for a quick run. A remark of Tom Emmett’s, the famous Yorkshire cricketer, is worth recalling, "Woa, mate, there’s a policeman," he said when his partner called him for a short run while Royle was at cover point.
However, after the tour he retired from cricket and took up teaching. He was later ordained. He became headmaster of Elstree School
Elstree School
Elstree School is an English preparatory school based in Woolhampton, near Reading in Berkshire.-1848-1938 in Elstree, Herts:As its name suggests, the school was originally founded in 1848 in Elstree, Hertfordshire, at Hill House on Elstree Hill, an 18th-century Grade II Listed Building...
and subsequently Stanmore Park school.
Royle kept a diary of his tour, which has now been published. In it he outlines the lavish welcome afforded the touring party, which was one of the great benefits of the tour. Royle also briefly mentions his views on the Sydney Riot of 1879
Sydney Riot of 1879
The Sydney Riot of 1879 was a civil disorder that occurred at an early international cricket match. It took place in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, at the Association Ground, Moore Park, now known as the Sydney Cricket Ground, during a match between a touring English team captained by Lord...
. He was president of the Lancashire County Cricket Club.