Dr. William Curgenven, a distinguished surgeon in Derby, played once for the South Wales Cricket Club whilst completing his medical training in London. He was also a leading figure in 1870 behind the creation of Derbyshire County Cricket Club.
William was born In Plymouth to a family who had roots in Cornwall, and it was in Devon where he played his first representative cricket, playing as a twenty-one year-old for the county’s amateur team as well as a combined Cornwall and Devon XI. Educated at Wellingborough and Aldenham School, he then studied medicine at the University of St. Andrew’s, prior to completing his medical training in London. Whilst in the capital, he continued to play a decent level of cricket and guested in 1864 for the South Wales Cricket Club against I Zingari at Lord’s, scoring 7 and 16.
It proved to be his one and only appearance for the Club as, shortly after becoming a member of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1864, William secured a post as House Surgeon at Derbyshire Royal Infirmary. He remained in Derby for 44 years during which time he played a key role in the formation of Derbyshire County Cricket Club, besides making seventeen first-class appearances for the Peakites between 1872 and 1878.
William was a hard-hitting right-handed batter and struck one half-century in thirty innings for Derbyshire. In 1866 he had also struck 180 for South Derbyshire against Rugby School. In 1874 he married Pamela Harman in Ardwick in Manchester. The couple had three daughters and two sons, Henry and Gilbert, both of whom played – much to their father’s delight – in County Championship cricket for Derbyshire. He retired in 1908 and moved to live in Hampshire.
CURGENVEN, Dr. William Grafton
Born – Plymouth, 30 November 1841.
Born – Fareham, 18 March 1910.