Brief profile of W.A.Thornton by Don Ambrose

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Player:

WA Thornton

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THORNTON, Walter Alfred.
Amateur.
Born at London, 23rd February 1858.
Died at Blakedown, Kidderminster, Worcestershire, 2nd February 1915.
The third son of Richard Napoleon Thornton, of 98 Portland Place, London, W., and Knowle, Sidmouth, Devon, and the brother of Charles Inglis Thornton (Kent and Middlesex) and the Rev. Richard Thornton Thornton (Kent). He was educated at Winchester, where he was a member of the cricket eleven 1874-76, being captain in 1876. He went up to St John’s College, Oxford, and was a member of the University cricket eleven 1879-82, winning his blue all four years. He also won a blue for billiards. He played in 24 first-class matches, his last being for the MCC in 1883. His county cricket was for Devon 1874-85. He was a Lieutenant in the 3rd (Volunteer) Battalion Devonshire Regiment in 1885.
At the time of the 1881 Census he was visiting Greenfield House, Sidmouth, Devon, the home of Dr. Arthur Wright, aged 34, a general practitioner and his wife Lucy, aged 38 born at Cheltenham. There are two unmarried step-daughters, Grace J. Salvin aged 17 and Lucy C. Salvin aged 19, both born in York. The Wrights also have two sons, Ralph B. aged 7 and Arthur C. aged 6. Walter A. Thornton is a visitor, unmarried, aged 23, an undergraduate of St. John’s, Oxford. There are four domestic servants.

(Article: Copyright © 2004 Don Ambrose)