“Goodbye” W G Grace – Died 23 October 1915

William Gilbert “W.G.” Grace, MRCS, LRCP (18 July 1848 – 23 October 1915) was an English amateur cricketer who is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest players of all time. Known as “W.G.”, he played first-class cricket for a record equalling 44 seasons, from 1865 to 1908, during which he captained England, Gloucestershire County Cricket Club, MCC and others. When he appeared in 1880 with E. M. Grace, one of his elder brothers, and Fred Grace, his younger brother, it was the first time three brothers played together in Test cricket.

He was an outstanding all-rounder, but it is for his batting that he is most renowned. He is

Grace qualified as a medical practitioner in 1879 and because of his medical profession, he was considered an amateur cricketer. However,  he is said to have made more money from his cricketing activities than any professional cricketer of the time

Besides Cricket, he was a champion 440 yard hurdler as a young man and also played football for The Wanderers.