Henry Forster

FORSTER, LORD, OF LEPE, P.C., G.C.M.G., died on January 15, when nearly 70 years of age. During three years in the Eton eleven H. W. Forster did not meet with much success in the important school matches but he scored, in irreproachable style, mainly by off-drives and cuts, 60 not out for Oxford against Cambridge in 1887. Essentially a fast wicket batsman he often got out disappointingly after rain, but on true turf he showed most attractive stroke play. He was a member of the Hampshire eleven for several seasons until 1895, mostly under F. E. Lacey. In 1919, before being raised to the Peerage, he became President of M.C.C., his former Hampshire Captain then being Secretary at Lord's. As Governor-General of Australia, Lord Forster took special interest in cricket in the commonwealth and entertained the M.C.C. touring teams. In 1925, during the third Test match at Adelaide, when Arthur Gilligan's team lost the rubber, he unveiled a portrait of George Giffen, who came to England in 1882, helped Australia to victory by seven runs in The Ashes match, and paid several other visits. Lord Forster, who was born on January 31, 1866, stood over six feet high and, with powerful physique, had a commanding figure. A strong right-handed batsman, a slow left-hand bowler and a splendid field at mid-off, he was a very useful allround cricketer.
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack