Vernon Royle
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The Reverend Vernon Peter Fanshawe Archer Royle (29 January 1854 – 21 May 1929) was an English first-class cricketer who played in a single Test match for England in Australia and later became a schoolmaster.[1] He was born in Brooklands, Cheshire and died in Stanmore, Middlesex, England.[2]
Background and education
He was the son of Dr. Peter Royle and Marina Fanshawe. Educated at Rossall School and Brasenose College, Oxford, he played cricket for Oxford University and Lancashire.
Cricket career
He was a member of Lord Harris's cricket team to tour Australia in 1878–79, which played one Test match. His fielding won considerable praise (He was ambidextrous, very quick on his feet, with a smart return, and a dead sure catch.); he is generally regarded as being the greatest "cover point" of all time, and many books have described the fear he engendered in batsmen when on the pitch. Only a rash batsman dared to try for a quick run. A remark of Tom Emmett’s, the famous Yorkshire cricketer, is recalled in Royle's obituary in The Times: "Woa, mate, there’s a policeman," he said when his partner called him for a short run while Royle was at cover point.[2]
After cricket
However, after the tour he retired from cricket and took up teaching, returning for only occasional matches. He was ordained in 1892 when he was a schoolmaster at Elstree School; he subsequently became headmaster fleetingly at Elstree before moving to Stanmore Park school.[2]
Publications
Royle kept a diary of his tour, which has now been published. In it he outlines the lavish welcome afforded the touring party, which was one of the great benefits of the tour. Royle also briefly mentions his views on the Sydney Riot of 1879. He was president of the Lancashire County Cricket Club.