Catalogue for the auction of
Cricket, Football, Golf & Sporting Memorabilia

To be held on Friday, Saturday & Sunday
29th, 30th November & 1st December 2024

R. Walker. Cricketer with no hands. An unusual single page letter, neatly handwritten in ink. ‘Written by Rd [Richard] Walker who lost both his hands at Burneside Paper Mill [Kendal] Aug 9th 1843. Signed ‘Rd. Walker, Sine Manibus [without hands]’. He continues ‘R.W. can play at cricket, is a very good batsman and can bowl very well, has occasionally partly shaved himself and has often mowed a swaith [sic] in rank with other mowers- and can do any thing almost than any one else can- And has taught the Grammar School Haveley[?] for 2 years. R.W.’ Partly laid to top edge of verso to trimmed page. Good/ very good condition.
The Cumbria County Archives describe the incident in which ‘Richard Walker had an accident at Cornelius Nicholson’s Burneside paper mill in 1843, losing his hands between heavy rollers at the age of twelve. He persevered in learning to write and draw, even going on to play cricket and play the organ’.

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