Basil Samuel Foster (12 February 1882 – 28 September 1959) was an English actor and cricketer who played 34 first-class matches in the early 20th century. He was born in Malvern, Worcestershire, and died in Pield Heath, Hillingdon, Middlesex, aged 77. He was the inspiration for the Wodehouse character, Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright, having become a stage actor so that he could also play county cricket.[1]
One of the seven Foster brothers who played for Worcestershire, he made his first-class debut for that county against Kent in August 1902, but scored only 4 and 0 as Worcestershire lost by nine wickets. He played against Surrey a few days later, taking three catches, and against Hampshire the following June, but made ducks in both his innings.
Foster did not play first-class cricket again until 1906, when he made 27 and 26 for Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) against Worcestershire at Lord's. Between then and early May 1912, he played mostly for MCC, making 15 appearances for them in all while turning out only four more times for Worcestershire. It was for MCC that he made his two half-centuries: 86 (from number eight) against the South Africans in 1907, and 74 against Leicestershire in 1910.
After his last match for MCC, Foster returned exclusively to county cricket, but now with Middlesex. For his new county he made 12 first-class appearances, but in 15 innings never scored more than 35. His final game came against Kent in late August, but only one day's play was possible in the match and Foster made just 8 in his only innings before being caught and bowled by Woolley.
Foster made his stage debut in 1906, as Norman Popple in Mr Popple of Ippleton by Paul Rubens, at the Marlborough Theatre, Holloway, London.[2] In The Dollar Princess of 1909, the Daily Mirror critic wrote that Foster (Earl of Quorn) and Gabrielle Ray (Daisy) "make a fine pair, and play to each other splendidly."[3]
In 1907, Foster played cricket against P.G. Wodehouse in the Actors against Authors game at Lord's. Foster later collaborated with Wodehouse, portraying the lead role, in the 1928 New Theatre production of A Damsel in Distress, as well as the role of Psmith in the 1930 Shaftesbury Theatre production of Leave It to Psmith; both productions were adapted by Wodehouse and Ian Hay from novels written by Wodehouse.[4]
^Baily's Magazine of Sports & Pastimes. 1916. pp. 94–95.
^Stage deaths : a biographical guide to international theatrical obituaries, 1850 to 1990. Internet Archive. New York : Greenwood Press. 1991. ISBN978-0-313-27593-7.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
basil, foster, basil, samuel, foster, february, 1882, september, 1959, english, actor, cricketer, played, first, class, matches, early, 20th, century, born, malvern, worcestershire, died, pield, heath, hillingdon, middlesex, aged, inspiration, wodehouse, chara. Basil Samuel Foster 12 February 1882 28 September 1959 was an English actor and cricketer who played 34 first class matches in the early 20th century He was born in Malvern Worcestershire and died in Pield Heath Hillingdon Middlesex aged 77 He was the inspiration for the Wodehouse character Catsmeat Potter Pirbright having become a stage actor so that he could also play county cricket 1 Basil FosterCricket informationBattingRight handedCareer statisticsCompetition First classMatches 34Runs scored 753Batting average 14 76100s 50s 0 2Top score 86Balls bowled 81Wickets 0Bowling average 5 wickets in innings 10 wickets in match Best bowling Catches stumpings 32 Source Cricinfo 8 November 2022 Contents 1 Cricket career 2 Actor 3 Personal life 4 References 5 External linksCricket career editOne of the seven Foster brothers who played for Worcestershire he made his first class debut for that county against Kent in August 1902 but scored only 4 and 0 as Worcestershire lost by nine wickets He played against Surrey a few days later taking three catches and against Hampshire the following June but made ducks in both his innings Foster did not play first class cricket again until 1906 when he made 27 and 26 for Marylebone Cricket Club MCC against Worcestershire at Lord s Between then and early May 1912 he played mostly for MCC making 15 appearances for them in all while turning out only four more times for Worcestershire It was for MCC that he made his two half centuries 86 from number eight against the South Africans in 1907 and 74 against Leicestershire in 1910 After his last match for MCC Foster returned exclusively to county cricket but now with Middlesex For his new county he made 12 first class appearances but in 15 innings never scored more than 35 His final game came against Kent in late August but only one day s play was possible in the match and Foster made just 8 in his only innings before being caught and bowled by Woolley Actor edit nbsp Foster as Vernon in The Sunshine Girl 1912 with Phyllis Dare as DeliaFoster made his stage debut in 1906 as Norman Popple in Mr Popple of Ippleton by Paul Rubens at the Marlborough Theatre Holloway London 2 In The Dollar Princess of 1909 the Daily Mirror critic wrote that Foster Earl of Quorn and Gabrielle Ray Daisy make a fine pair and play to each other splendidly 3 In 1907 Foster played cricket against P G Wodehouse in the Actors against Authors game at Lord s Foster later collaborated with Wodehouse portraying the lead role in the 1928 New Theatre production of A Damsel in Distress as well as the role of Psmith in the 1930 Shaftesbury Theatre production of Leave It to Psmith both productions were adapted by Wodehouse and Ian Hay from novels written by Wodehouse 4 Foster became manager of the Richmond Theatre in 1939 2 Personal life editDuring World War I Foster was machine gun instructor to the 2 8th Hampshire Territorials 5 Foster was married to actress Gwendoline Brogden and Lillian F Norton 6 References edit Murray Hedgcock 2011 Extras Wodehouse at the Wicket Random House p 197 a b Parker John 1947 Who s Who in the Theatre 10th ed London Pitman pp 600 601 The Merry Widow s Successor Daily Mirror 27 September 1909 p 4 Wodehouse P G 2011 Hedgcock Murray ed Wodehouse at the Wicket Arrow Books p 197 ISBN 978 0099551362 Baily s Magazine of Sports amp Pastimes 1916 pp 94 95 Stage deaths a biographical guide to international theatrical obituaries 1850 to 1990 Internet Archive New York Greenwood Press 1991 ISBN 978 0 313 27593 7 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint others link External links editBasil Foster at ESPNcricinfo Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Basil Foster amp oldid 1183187210, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
