Charles Gunner

Charles Richards Gunner (7 January 1853 — 4 February 1924) was an English first-class cricketer and rugby union international.

The son of C. J. Gunner, he was born at Bishops Waltham in January 1853. He was educated at Marlborough College, becoming a solicitor after completing his education.[1] Gunner played rugby union for England in 1875, making a single Test appearance against Ireland at Dublin in the 1875–76 Home Nations.[2] A club cricketer for Bishops Waltham,[3] he made a single appearance in first-class cricket for Hampshire against Derbyshire at Derby in 1878.[4] He was called upon to bat or bowl in the match, but did take a single catch.[5] Gunner served as a clerk to the Hampshire County Justices and was a registrar of the County Court.[1] He spent 40 years as clerk at for the Droxford Petty Sessions, up until his death at his residence at Bishops Waltham in February 1924, following a long illness.[6] He was laid to rest there at St Peter's Church, and was survived by his wife Jessie Kate Mason, with whom he had nine children - seven boys and two girls - with three of their sons dying in the First World War.[7] One of their sons who died in the war, John, also played first-class cricket.