The likes of Don Bradman, Jack Hobbs, Garry Sobers, Richard Hadlee and Geoff Boycott have all been knighted for their outstanding services to cricket. In recent times, Glamorgan can boast having a cricketing knight with Sir Viv Richards playing for them between 1990 and 1993, whilst Monmouthshire also had Foster Stedman who was knighted in 1937 for services to politics and public life in the county.
Sir Foster Stedman was a stalwart figure with Monmouthshire, serving as their secretary and captain from 1896 and 1903, besides playing for the Gentlemen of Glamorgan in their encounter against the Players at Cardiff Arms Park in 1899. Seven years later, he was also chosen to play at the same ground for South Wales against the 1906 West Indians.
Image Credit – Glamorgan Cricket Archives.
Born on 18 March 1871, Foster was the son of the Rev. Paul Stedman, the vicar of Thurston in Suffolk and moved to South Wales in 1896 when he was appointed as Land Agent to Lord Tredegar. He subsequently spent the rest of his life in Monmouthshire, marrying Mary Ellen Lloyd on 30 March 1898 at St. Mark’s Church in Newport and living initially at Machen House, before later moving to The Garth in Bassaleg.
During his time as Agent to the Tredegar Estate, Foster took every opportunity to promote cricket on his Lordship’s property, besides making 77 appearances for Monmouthshire in the Minor County Championship, claiming 172 wickets with his right-arm seamers and off-cutters. He also served as captain of Newport CC between 1902 and 1912, in addition to being a talented hockey player and also acting as Secretary of Newport Hockey Club.
Between 1900 and 1909 Foster served with the Second Volunteer Battalion of the South Wales Borderers and after re-joining them in 1914, he was appointed Captain of their regiment for home service and was responsible for the defence of Newport Docks.
For many years, Foster also acted as a Conservative Agent and was a member of Monmouthshire County Council. He was also President of the Monmouthshire Chamber of Agriculture, besides being a Governor of Usk Agricultural College and a Director of the Royal Gwent Hospital. On 25 February 1937 he was knighted by the King for political and public services in Monmouthshire. He died at his home at The Garth on 2 June 1948.