Brief profile of G.G.Hearne by Don Ambrose

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Player:

GG Hearne

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HEARNE, George Gibbons.
Professional.
Born at Hornton Cottages, Uxbridge Road, Ealing, Middlesex, 7th July 1856.
Died at Denmark Hill, London, 13th February 1932.
The son of George Hearne, professional cricketer and manager of cricket grounds, playing for Middlesex 1861-68. His brother Alec played for Kent and England, Frank played for Kent, England, Western Province and South Africa and his uncle Thomas for Middlesex. His nephew G.A.L.Hearne played for Western Province and South Africa. George was coached by his father and uncle Tom on the local cricket ground behind The Green Man, Ealing. His father took charge of the Private Banks Ground at Catford Bridge in 1872 and the family moved into Kent. It was 1875 that young George first played for Kent. He was to play in 328 first-class matches, 252 of them for Kent, and including one Test Match against South Africa on the tour there in 1891/2. In 1876 he was engaged at Prince’s Ground and the following year he was appointed to the ground staff at Lord’s, a position he was to hold until 1901. During the winters he worked, like his father, preparing cricket grounds and opened a cricket outfitting business at 140 Lewisham High Road, which he maintained until 1895, when the business was transferred to Wisden’s. His wife died in 1916 and he then moved into his unmarried daughter Mabel’s house at 56 Verdant Lane, Catford. He died of bronchitis and influenza at King’s College Hospital, Denmark Hill.
The 1881 Census finds him living at 13 Bowness Road, Lewisham, aged 24, a cricketer and contractor, with his new wife Mary, aged 24. He had married Mary Jane Sharon, daughter of Joseph Sharon, coachman, on 12th March 1881.

(Article: Copyright © 2003 Don Ambrose)