SIR - Sadly, the recent death of former Worcestershire batsman Phil Hughes echoes a similar tragedy in this county just over a century ago.
Percy Eaton was a popular young farm bailiff who was soon to get married and - keen on sports - had just taken up cricket. Late afternoon on August 18, 1908 he was batting for Honeybourne against The Hamptons and was at the crease ready to face the bowler - Fladbury curate, the Rev. Frank Venables. Percy successfully hit the full pitched ball but which then flew off the edge of his bat striking him hard on the neck just below the right ear. Percy fell to the ground lifeless and well beyond the help of the doctor summoned from Evesham.. An inquest concluded that he died from a dislocated neck resulting from a sudden jerk as the ball struck.
Poor Percy's memorial stands in the churchyard at Hinton-on- the Green.
Louise Rumford
Worcester
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