Previously having had the good fortune of acquiring two American cricket CDVs’, one of which pictures baseball’s Harry Wright (see blog posting dated March 7, 2025) I realized how little I knew of cricket, cricket’s origins and of its ties to baseball. In the last year and a half I have made a study of American and British cricket and happened across the letter which is the subject of this blog.
This ‘letter’, even with its cricket content, I see
as more importantly a study of man’s ability to overcome life’s obstacles, no
matter how great. A study in perseverance, in times that were indeed so much
more difficult than today.
Richard Walker, a cricketer with no hands. At age
twelve (1843) Richard Walker had an accident at Cornelius Nicholson’s Burnside Paper
Mill, losing his hands between heavy rollers (Cumbria County Archives). He persevered
in learning to write and draw and went further, to be able to play cricket.
His handwritten letter reads:
“Written by Rd (Richard) Walker who lost both his hands
at Burnside Paper Mill Aug 9th 1843. Signed ‘Rd Walker, Sine Manibus
(without hands) Aug 18th 1854’. He continues, “R.W. can play at Cricket,
is a very good Batsman and can Bowl very well, has occasionally partly shaved
himself and has often Mowed a swaith in rank with other Mowers – and can do
anything almost than anyone else can – And has taught the grammar school Haveley
for 2 years. R.W.”
An unusual and thought provoking letter with sports
associations.
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