George Willes (cricketer)

George Edward Willes (16 August 1844 – 8 September 1901) was an English clergyman and a cricketer who played in five first-class cricket matches for Cambridge University in 1865 and 1866.[1][2] He was born at Hamstall Ridware, Staffordshire and died at Burnham, Buckinghamshire.

Willes was educated at Rugby School and at Trinity College, Cambridge.[3] He played cricket at Rugby as a right-handed middle-order batsman, but in his first year at Cambridge University in 1864 did not progress beyond the trial matches.[1] In both 1865 and 1866 he was picked for a few early-season matches, but often batted well down the order; his greatest success in first-class cricket came in the second innings of the 1866 match against the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) at Lord's when he was demoted to No 12 in a 12-a-side game and proceeded to hit 51 out of a last-wicket partnership of 79 which forced MCC to bat again when they appeared on course for an innings victory.[4] He played only one further first-class match and was not picked for the University Match against Oxford University during his time at Cambridge.[1] He continued to play in minor matches into his 50s.

Willes graduated from Cambridge University in 1868 with a Bachelor of Arts degree.[3] The same year, he was ordained as a deacon in the Church of England and in 1869 he became a priest.[3] He served as curate at parishes at Buckingham and at Aynho in Northamptonshire and was vicar of Christ Church, Epsom from 1874 to 1881.[3] He was rector of Calverton in Buckinghamshire from 1881 to 1900, and then moved to Burnham as vicar, but died a year later.[3]

The Oxford University cricketer Edmund Willes was a cousin.[1]