Octavius Hammond

Octavius Hammond (19 March 1835 – 22 August 1908) was an English clergyman and a cricketer who played first-class cricket for Cambridge University between 1855 and 1857.^[1] He was born in Newmarket, Suffolk and died at Herringswell, also in Suffolk.

Hammond played cricket for Cambridge University in eight matches that are now considered to be first-class across three seasons: three of the games were part of the University match series against Oxford University for which participants are awarded a Blue.^[2] He also played twice for a Cambridgeshire side in first-class games and once for a team representing "The Gentlemen of England". A middle-order batsman, his best first-class innings was a score of 52 not out for the University side against the Cambridge Town Club in 1857.^[3]

Career outside cricket

Hammond was educated at Uppingham School and Emmanuel College, Cambridge.^[4] On graduation, he was ordained as a Church of England priest and from 1867 to his death he was the rector of Herringswell in Suffolk.^[4] Shortly after his installation at Herringswell, and soon after a minor church renovation at St Ethelbert's Church, which was of 11th century origin, the thatched roof of the church caught fire during a Sunday morning service and the entire building was destroyed apart from the outer walls and the tower; contemporary reports note that the rector supervised the rescue of the church organ which he had himself donated.^[5] Hammond organised the rebuilding and engaged the services of the distinguished London architect Arthur Blomfield.

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