Born On This Day: 22nd February

Edward Ede and his twin brother George were born in Southampton in 1834. Edward made his first-class debut for Hampshire v MCC in 1861, two years before the founding of the County Club, and from their first ‘official’ match in 1864 he was a regular, playing in all 14 matches against other counties up to 1870.

He was also a member of the founding Committee, sometimes deputising for his twin brother as acting secretary. He was also the county’s scorer, and an early editor of the Hampshire Cricket Guide – the predecessor of the Hampshire Handbook. The twin brothers opened the batting in Hampshire County Cricket Club’s inaugural first-class match v Sussex in 1864 – an unusual occurrence.

Edward was educated at Eton although he did not play for the first XI, but appeared regularly for the Gentlemen of Hampshire, before and after the founding of the county club. 

He was an all-rounder who batted, bowled lobs, and kept wicket; enjoying considerable success in the many ‘minor’ matches he played, while in first-class cricket, his highest score was 49 v Kent at Southborough in 1867 and his best figures were 4-79 v Sussex at Hove in 1864. His son played for Hampshire in the early years of the twentieth century. He died in Southampton 7.7.1908.

George Ede was principally a batsman, bowling less than his brother, although in first-class cricket his 257 runs came at an average below 10 apiece with just one half-century v Sussex at Hove in 1864.

He has a particular place in Hampshire’s history as the first man to score a century at the Antelope Ground – 122 for the South of the county v the East, and on the same ground he and his brother played v the Australian Aborigines in 1868.

In first-class matches, he captained Hampshire between 1864-1869 and was secretary during the same period, but struggled to find the time to devote to his duties.

He was also an experienced steeplechase jockey, but this was to prove his downfall. In 1868, he rode to victory in the Grand National, but having raced in it again in 1870, he accepted another ride at Aintree the following day, and the horse fell, crushing him, and causing injuries from which he died three days later in Liverpool on 13.3.1870

Also today: Rev Thomas Parry Garnier (1864), Kevin Shine (1989/93) Maxmillian Wood (1907), George Munsey (2020)