Frank Chester (umpire)

Frank Chester (born January 20, 1895 and died April 8, 1957) was an English first-class cricketer and notable international cricket umpire.

Chester was an all-rounder, a left-handed middle-order batsman and a slow left-arm bowler, who played 55 first-class matches for county side Worcestershire as a teenager from 1912 to 1914. His playing career was ended by losing his right arm below the elbow in World War I Salonika in July 1917, and he turned to umpiring.

Of note was in 1913 when Frank Chester scored 108 against Somerset to be the youngest player (he was 17) then to score a county century, this record still stood in the 1950s. During 1913 Chester was summonsed to meet Dr W G Grace who wished to congratulate him on a century scored at Lords that season.

A long-serving official, Chester stood in what was then a world record 48 Tests from 1924 to 1955. Two years after officiating in his last Test match, Chester died in the town of his birth, Bushey, Hertfordshire, having suffered from stomach ulcers for much of his later years.

There is a book on Frank brought out in 1956; HOWS THAT! pub. Hutchinson

External links

* [http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/england/content/player/10906.html Cricinfo profile]