William Bedster

William Bedster (born c.1750; died c.1805, probably at Chelsea) was an English cricketer of the late 18th century. He was a good batsman and a useful bowler.

William Bedster was famously the Earl of Tankerville’s butler. He had 62 known first-class appearances from 1777 to 1794. He played mainly for Surrey till 1787 but he was frequently used as a "given man" elsewhere.

It is true that he was at one time Tankerville’s butler at Mount Felix, Walton-on-Thames. He subsequently moved to Chelsea, where he was an innkeeper, and in his later career played mostly for Middlesex.

It is believed he died in 1805 but very little is known of his personal details.

External links

• From Lads to Lord's – profile at the Wayback Machine (archived 10 October 2012)

References

• Fresh Light on 18th Century Cricket by G B Buckley (FL18)
• The Dawn of Cricket by H T Waghorn (WDC)
• Scores & Biographies, Volume 1 by Arthur Haygarth (SBnnn)
• The Glory Days of Cricket by Ashley Mote (GDC)
• John Nyren's "The Cricketers of my Time" by Ashley Mote