William Foord-Kelcey

William Foord-Kelcey OBE (21 April 1854 – 3 January 1922) was an English barrister, academic and cricketer who played first class cricket for Oxford University from 1874 to 1875, for Kent from 1874 to 1883 and for MCC in 1878.

Foord-Kelcey was born at Smeeth, Ashford, Kent, as Foord, but the family changed its name to Foord-Kelcey in May 1872. He was educated at Chatham House, Ramsgate, and at Exeter College, Oxford. At Oxford, he was a member of the University cricket eleven in 1874 and in 1875. He made his debut for in Kent 1874. In 1875 he took 5 wickets in five innings and in 1876 took 5 wickets in four innings. He made a century against Hampshire in 1878.

He began studying law at the Inner Temple in 1877 and was called to the bar in 1880.^[1] He became a lecturer at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. He continued to play for Kent until 1883 playing 64 matches for the county.

Foord-Kelcey was a right-hand batsman and played 136 innings in 78 first class matches with an average of 14.26 and a top score of 105. He was a right-arm fast bowler and took 272 first-class wickets at an average of 17.75 and with a best performance of 8 for 49.^[2]

In 1903, Foord-Kelcey became professor of Mathematics and Mechanics at Woolwich. In 1905 he was living at The Shrubbery, Shooters’ Hill, Kent. He was awarded the OBE in 1919.^[3]

Foord-Kelcey died at Woolwich aged 68. His house in Margate is marked with a blue plaque.^[4]

Foord-Kelcey's brother John also played cricket for Oxford University and his nephew Osbert Mordaunt played for Somerset.

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