| Player: | CW Landon |
The son of the Rev. James T.B.Landon chaplain at Bromley College, he was educated at Bromsgrove School where he was a member of the cricket eleven in 1866 and 1867.
Just over 5ft. 9 inches tall and weighing almost 12 stone, he was a right-handed batsman and a right-round-arm bowler with an eccentric action. Bowling against the Australians in 1882,
it was related that "the amateurs delivery was very curious and caused a great deal of laughter." He was a brilliant field at cover-point.
He played in four matches for Lancashire in 1874, making his top score of 47 against Kent at Old Trafford on 18th August. He also played in one match for the Gentlemen of Lancashire against I Zingari at Croxteth Hall, Liverpool at the end of July. In 1875 he played in two further matches for Lancashire, including that against the M.C.C. and Ground at Lord's.
Moving to Yorkshire he played for that county from 1878 to 1882 without making any significant contribution. He was however a leading figure in the Yorkshire Gentlemen's side from 1876 to 1902. With A.D.Dickson he once took part in a partnership of 271 for that team.
In eight consecutive innings against George Freeman he was bowled for 0 each time, but scored 72 on the ninth occasion. In 1879 he took 119 wickets for the Gentlemen of Yorkshire.
No trace of him can be found in the 1881 Census, but his father by that time had become the vicar of Ledsham and was living at the vicarage, age 64, with his mother Sarah aged 62, his brother James M. aged 32, unmarried born at Bromley, and his sister Caroline S., unmarried aged 25 born at Ledsham. There were two domestic servants.
At the time of the 1901 Census he was visiting Becca Hall, Aberford, Yorkshire, the home of Arthur T. Schreiber, aged 72, born in Essex, and his wife Elizabeth H., aged 67, born at Ledsham, both living on own means, as is Charles W. Landon, aged 50, unmarried. There are eight domestic servants.
He was buried at Ledsham on 7th March 1903.
(Article: Copyright © 2004 Don Ambrose)