The Thornbury Cricket Club was formed in 1871.  Since that time there have been the following Presidents

  • 1871 – 1873  H. Jenner-Fust J.P.
  • 1874 – 1906 W. O. Maclaine J.P.
  • 1910 – 1911 Dr Edward Mills Grace (The Coroner)
  • 1912 – 1918 R. E. Bush J.P.
  • 1919 – 1920 Major A.H.S. Howard K.C.B., K.C.V.O., M.C., T.D.
  • 1921 – 1947 Major Sir Algar Howard, Norray and Garter King of Arms
  • 1948 – 1951 Captain R.A. Bennett J.P.
  • 1952 – 1956 Captain N.V. Grace R.N. (Rtd) D.L.
  • 1956 – 1974 Dr Edgar M. and Captain N.V. Grace R.N. (Rtd) D.L.
  • 1975 – 2004 Lt. Col. G.F. Grace OBE RA
  • 2004 – 2010 Derek G. Hawkins
  • 2011 – 2014 David A Allen

Dr Edgar Mervyn Grace who was President from 1956 to 1974, although he had been closely involved with the club for the previous 80 years, left the following thumbnail sketches of the Presidents amongst his notes.

Mr H. Jenner-Fust – was first captain of Cambridge v Oxford at Lord’s 1827.  President of M.C.C. 1833. Wicket-keeper without gloves or pads, then with wash-leather gloves.  Lived at Hill Court, was a J.P. and Chairman of Board of Guardians.  Died at the age of 99.

Mr W. O. Maclaine – was the son-in-law of Mr Jenner-Fust and lived at Kyneton House.

Dr Edward Mills Grace – affectionately known as ‘The Coroner’ and ‘The Little Doctor’ was the founder of the present Thornbury Cricket Club in 1871, and previously at the age of 24 a playing member of more than 20 cricket clubs.  Was elected a member of M.C.C. in 1862, and a member of George Parr’s XI which toured Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand in 1863/64.

First Captain of Gloucestershire C.C.C. 1870 and Secretary from 1872 until 1909.  First game for Thornbury 1870 last 1910.  Taken from school to play for West Gloucestershire XI against the All England XI in a field behind the Full Moon, Bristol in 1854 at the age of 13.  Captain, Secretary and Treasurer of Thornbury C.C. for 40 years, scoring 67 centuries for the Club and 121 during his career.

Born on November 28th 1841, he died on May 20th 1911 aged 69.

Mr R. E. Bush – played for Gloucestershire C.C.C. from 1874 until 1877.  Brother of J.A. Bush, the Gloucestershire wicket-keeper who went to Australia with the England XI in 1876 (‘W.G.’s honeymoon tour).  A good benefactor to Thornbury C.C. he captained the Club from 1911 – 1918.  Captained Clifton College for 2 years and was the best schoolboy cricketer in the country.  R.E. Bush lived at Bishop’s Knoll, Bristol, except when sheep-farming in Australia and at the beginning of the First World War turned his home into a hospital.  Was Sherriff of Bristol.  An interesting feature of his cricket was that he always used a very heavy bat, weighing 2lbs 5 ounces.

Major Sir Algar Howard – lived at Thornbury Castle and played for Thornbury Castle C.C. from 1880-1914 and was captain for nearly 25 years with Mr T.C. Smith as vice-captain.  He also played for Thornbury and was a member of M.C.C.  In 1880 his father, Sir Edward Stafford Howard provided and maintained the ground in the Castle fields for Thornbury C.C. 2nd XI and a general practice ground, afterwards known as the Thornbury Castle Cricket Club.  Sir Edward was a staunch teetotaller and expected others to be the same.

Captain Richard A. Bennett – came to Thornbury in the early 1900s and lived at the Parks until his death in 1951.  He had formerly kept wicket for Hampshire, M.C.C. and an England XI tour in the Argentine, and was not only a first class stumper but also a brilliant bat.  A keen supporter of Thornbury C.C. and a very valuable advisor both as Chairman and Vice Chairman 1929 – 1947.

Captain Norman Vere Grace – lived at Park House, Thornbury and later after Naval Service at Amberley; was A.D.C. to King George VI in 1945.  Played for Thornbury from 1902 when he was only 8 years old until 1967.  Represented the Royal Navy v The Army at Lord’s and also all over the world.  Member of M.C.C. and Gloucestershire Gypsies 1924 (Chairman since 1954) also Free Foresters.  Took all ten wickets in a match and made many scores between 80 and 100 but never scored a century for Thornbury.

Dr Edgar M. Grace – was captain of Wellington College (now The Wrekin) for 3 years, and was awarded his colours at both Christ’s College, Cambridge and St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London.  Captain, Hon. Secretary and Treasurer of Thornbury C. C. for 36 years and a playing member of M.C.C. for 30 years.  Founder-member of Gloucestershire Gypsies 1922, scoring the first century for them.  Was a member of the Committee for many years and in 1967 was elected Vice President.  Played for a Cambridgeshire XI against ‘Ranji’s’ England XI (a 3 day match) at Shillingley Park, Sussex in 1908.  Toured Denmark with M.C.C. 1922. Played for Gloucestershire Gentlemen and Gloucestershire Club and Ground, and took part in several tours.  Scored 8 centuries for Thornbury and 17 during his career.