A right-handed batsman, he played his club cricket for Broughton, Manchester.

His only match for the Lancashire County was at Southampton on 16th and 17th August 1870, against Hampshire, at a time when Lancashire were struggling to get together an eleven for away matches.

He is said to be the father of Gerald Barry Sanderson who played for Warwickshire and Worcestershire. However he attended Malvern College and in their register he is listed as the son of Mrs.Hopkins, of 18 Augustus Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham. It was always assumed that his father had pre-deceased his entry to Malvern - the son was born in 1881. The recently discovered date of death of 1934 appears to preclude this, assuming that this is the right man.

The 1881 Census shows Richard W.B. living at 20 Park Road, Pendleton in Salford, aged 34, a cotton spinner, with his wife Clara aged 21 born in Ireland. They have two domestic servants.

The 1901 Census shows Clara F. Sanderson, aged 41 born in Ireland, living on own means and married, living at 11 Regent Street, Coventry, with her son Gerald B. aged 19 born Liverpool, an Oxford undergraduate. There is one domestic servant. There is no sign of Richard W.B., although there is a Richard on Tyneside, but this is not the right one.

(Article: Copyright © 2004 Don Ambrose)

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