| Frank Gillingham | |
| Fullname: | Frank Hay Gillingham |
| Birth Date: | 6 September 1875 |
| Birth Place: | Tokyo, Japan |
| Death Place: | Monaco |
| Batting: | Right-handed |
| Role: | Wicket-keeper |
| Club1: | Essex |
| Year1: | 1903–1928 |
| Columns: | 1 |
| Column1: | FC |
| Matches1: | 210 |
| Runs1: | 10050 |
| Bat Avg1: | 30.64 |
| 100S/50S1: | 19/- |
| Top Score1: | 201 |
| Deliveries1: | 8 |
| Wickets1: | 0 |
| Catches/Stumpings1: | 111/1 |
| Date: | 23 July 2013 |
| Source: | http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/player/13376.html Cricinfo |
Frank Hay Gillingham (6 September 1875 - 1 April 1953) was an English cricketer. He played for Essex between 1903 and 1928.[1]
Born in Tokyo to John Rowley Gillingham and his wife Sarah (nee Archer), he was educated at Dulwich College and Durham University. He worked in the City of London for a while but, after training for ordination at the London College of Divinity,[2] was ordained as a deacon in 1899 and priest in 1900 and became curate of Leyton (1899-1905).[3] He later became an army chaplain with the 2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers at Tidworth from 1905 to 1907[4] then again a curate at St James-the-Less, Bethnal Green, (1907-1910).[5] He was then successively Vicar of Holy Trinity Church, Bordesley (1910-1914), Rector of St Mary Magdalen Bermondsey (1914-1923), Rector of St Margaret's, Lee (1923-1940).[6] [7] and Rector of St Stephen Walbrook (1940-1953).[8] He was a Temporary Chaplain to the Forces during the First World War.[9] He was a Chaplain to the Royal Household from 1940 to 1953.[10]
As an amateur cricketer he was a member of the Essex XI who in 1905 beat the Australians at Leyton by 19 runs. He went on to tour Jamaica with the Hon. L H Tennyson's team in 1927. That year he also made the first ball-by-ball cricket commentary for the BBC, speaking for a total of 25 minutes over four sessions. He was reportedly fired by BBC chairman Lord Reith for reading advertisement placards out on air to fill time during a rain break.[11]