Frederick Wilding

Frederick Wilding KC (20 November 1852 – 5 July 1945) played first-class cricket for Canterbury in the 1880s and 1890s. He also played tennis and was a noted athlete.

Frederick Wilding
KC

Personal information
Born	(1852-11-20)20 November 1852 Montgomery, Wales
Died	5 July 1945(1945-07-05) (aged 92) Christchurch, New Zealand
Batting	Right-hand bat
Bowling	Slow left-arm orthodox
Role	All-rounder
Relations	Anthony Wilding (son) Cora Wilding (daughter)
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1881/82-1899/1900	Canterbury
Career statistics
Competition FC Matches 34 Runs scored 1078 Batting average 18.91 100s/50s 2/2 Top score 103 Balls bowled 3488 Wickets 103 Bowling average 12.79 5 wickets in innings 6 10 wickets in match 1 Best bowling 7/31 Catches/stumpings 27/-
Source: CricketArchive, 14 November 2008

Wilding was born in Montgomery, Wales, and gained his experience as an athlete in the west of England. He and his wife, Julia Wilding (née Anthony) emigrated from Herefordshire, England, in 1879. Wilding became a well-to-do lawyer in Christchurch, New Zealand, and was appointed a King's Counsel in 1913.[1] Their house, "Fownhope" in St Martins, Christchurch, had two tennis courts, an asphalt winter court and a summer grass court. He founded Wilding Park, which is today the largest tennis centre in Canterbury.[1] He won the New Zealand doubles title five times between 1887 and 1894 with his partner Richard Harman.[2]

Their son Tony Wilding, was a world champion tennis player, and played cricket for Canterbury, but was killed in action during the First World War. Their daughter Cora Wilding was an artist and outdoor enthusiast, and founded the Youth Hostel Association of New Zealand in 1932.

He died, aged 92, in Christchurch on 5 July 1945,[3] and was buried at Bromley Cemetery.[4]