Fairservice Bill Image 2 Kent 1907

Description

Nunhead, Surrey born right-arm off-break bowler Bill Fairservice grew up in Tonbridge and after an initial trial in 1899, Fairservice was employed at Kent’s Tonbridge Nursery in 1902. He first played for Kent’s Second XI in 1901 and made his first class cricket debut for the County in May 1902 against M.C.C. at Lord’s. He played in two matches in 1902, taking five wickets.

Fairservice is often credited with taking the wicket of W.G. Grace as his first wicket in first class cricket. Fairservice did bowl Grace twice in the same match in May 1903, again against M.C.C. at Lord’s, but his first wickets were taken in the same fixture the previous year in which Grace did not play.

Fairservice played fairly regularly from 1903 until the start of the First World War, during a period in which Kent won four County Championship titles from 1906 to 1913. He took at least 35 wickets in every season other than 1912, although his opportunities were limited as Kent had spin bowlers Colin Blythe and Frank Woolley as regulars in the team at this time. He was awarded his County cap in 1903.

During First World War Fairservice served with the Kent Fortress Royal Engineers (K.F.E.). He is believed to have been stationed in the UK throughout the War and appeared for K.F.E. cricket teams alongside fellow Kent professionals Colin Blythe, David Jennings and Claud Woolley in 1916. By 1918 he was serving with the Royal Military Police although none of his service papers survive

With Blythe killed in the War, Fairservice had increased opportunities in 1919 and 1920. In the latter, a cool summer with many wet pitches, Fairservice had his most productive season, taking 113 wickets at an average of 17.46, although Wisden admitted that batsmen still did not find him difficult when pitches were firm. A highlight of that season was when he and Woolley bowled out Surrey for 61 and 73 on a slow, sticky wicket at Blackheath, earning match figures of 10-58.  He also took 9-62 against Worcestershire at Tonbridge. In the exceptionally hot and dry summer of 1921, however, Fairservice was less effective, taking only 50 wickets at an average of 32.50, and announced his retirement at the close of 1921 after being awarded a benefit match against Surrey, although he subsequently played for Northumberland between 1924 and 1926.

After retiring from professional cricket, Fairservice coached cricket at Tonbridge School, Malvern College and Lancing College. He was an umpire and for four years the groundsman at Sevenoaks Vine and later acted as the scorer for Kent’s Second XI until he was 87. When over 80, he often bowled in the nets at King’s School, Canterbury, where his son was sports master.

A useful tail end batsman, Fairservice scored 4,939 runs in 302 first class matches at an average of 15.29, including 9 half centuries, with a highest score of 61 not out. He took 859 wickets at an average of 22.60 a piece, with a best performance of 7-44, bowling 39 five wicket innings and 7 ten wicket matches. He also took 164 catches in his first class career.

His son Colin Fairservice played for Kent and Middlesex in the 1920’s and 1930’s.