On February 10th last Mr. Edward Hastings Buckland died at his
residence, Southgate House, Winchester, after a long and most trying
illness, which he had faced throughout with the most cheerful and
patient courage.
He was born on June 20th, 1864, the youngest son of the Rev. Matthew
Buckland, of Laleham; one of his brothers being Mr. F. M. Buckland, who
scored a century for Oxford against Cambridge in the late seventies.
“Teddy” Buckland, as he was known to a wide circle of friends, was
educated at Marlborough and New College, Oxford. His all-round cricket
was of great service to his school, and in 1883 for Marlborough against
Cheltenham he discarded his usual style of slow round-arm bowling for
fast under-hand deliveries, by which he wrought great havoc and won the
match.
His first year at Oxford found him a member of the very strong team,
which, under Mr. M. C. Kemp, beat both the Australians and Cambridge.
For four years Mr. Buckland did good work both with bat and ball for his
University, his best seasons being 1886–87.
The ’Varsity match of 1886 is memorable for the large score made by
Messrs. Key and Rashleigh for the first wicket in Oxford’s second
innings, the former scoring 143 and the latter 107. The rest of the
Oxford eleven were advised to get out as soon as possible, and so the
score-sheet does not record any double-figure score in that innings, the
third highest score being 9.
Cambridge, with 340 to make, were sent in for a quarter of an hour on
the second evening, and played out that time for the loss of no wicket,
and the gain of no run except an extra.
On the last day of the match the Light Blues offered a dogged defence,
and late in the afternoon of the third day it looked as if Cambridge
would save the game, as they had 196 on the board for the loss of but
four wickets.
Then it was that Mr. Buckland carried all before him, for, going on with
the score at 170 and a drawn game imminent, he took the last five
wickets for only 14 runs, and Cambridge were out for 206 or so. This
must rank as one of the most useful bowling performances ever done at
Lord’s.
In 1887 Mr. Buckland had a great match for Oxford at the Oval, when he
scored 148 and took seven wickets against Surrey at their best; and as a
fitting crown to his good ’Varsity career he was selected to represent
the Gentlemen against the Players at Lord’s.
It is sad to think that of the Oxford eleven of 1887, Mr. E. A. Nepean
predeceased his colleague by only a few weeks.
Mr. Buckland played some matches for Middlesex after coming to London,
where for a time he followed up his degree in the honour school of
jurisprudence by the study of law. But fortunately for Winchester
College and Wykehamists it was not long before he found himself
appointed assistant master at that ancient foundation, with charge of
the school cricket, and in this sphere his genius for the game and his
irrepressible enthusiasm soon had a marked effect upon the fortunes of
Winchester cricket. All his spare time was spent upon the cricket
ground, and when he was not bowling at the nets he would be umpiring or
taking part in a game, and the boys knew that his critical but
encouraging eye was always upon them.
In the early nineties the fruit of his teaching was seen in some very
fine teams that represented Winchester, and such distinguished
cricketers as J. R. Mason, H. D. G. Leveson-Gower, Vernon Hill, the
Cases, C. Wigram, and H. C. McDonell are only examples of the players he
turned out.
Mr. Buckland was also a very good racquet player, one of the best public
school players of his day, and at racquets he was able to assist
considerably the Wykehamists.
He was one of the first young cricketers to turn his attention to the
royal and ancient game of golf, and at this he speedily attained great
proficiency, being quite in the front rank of cricket-golfers, with a
low handicap at the best meetings.