Gilbert Curgenven

Who was Gilbert Curgenven?

Gilbert Curgenven was an English cricketer who played first class cricket for Derbyshire between 1901 to 1922.

Curgenven was born at Friar Gate, Derby, the son of William Curgenven a doctor who was one of the founders of Derbyshire County Cricket Club. He was educated at Repton School and became a farmer. He made his first-class debut for Derbyshire in the 1901 season in August against Hampshire when he made 15 not out in his second innings. Although he played six more games that season, he only played four games in the 1902 season and one in the 1903 season. He played in full in the 1904 season making his top score of 124 against Surrey. In the 1905 season, he was down to four games and then was absent from English first class cricket until the 1909 season. He played a spread of games in 1909 and also in the 1910 season when he scored centuries against Essex and Nottinghamshire. He went to British Columbia where in 1912 and 1913 he played for a newly formed club at Cowichan. In a game for them against the Australians he took 5 for 89 in a non first-class game. Back in Derbyshire in the 1914 season, he played a full season that year.

During World War I Curgenven was a 2nd lieutenant in the 2nd County of London Yeomanry and then joined the Royal Flying Corps. After the war, he played fully for Derbyshire in the 1921 season and a partially in the 1922 season which was his last.