William Holms (rugby union)

He went to Blair Lodge School in Polmont. He played cricket for the school; and a match made The Sporting Life newspaper when the schoolboys played the masters in 1883. Holms performed well as a bowler, bowling out 3 teachers. He also caught W. A. Bettesworth, the first master to bat, but only after Bettesworth had scored 96. Although Holms was second up to bat for the schoolboys he was bowled out lbw after scoring only 5 runs.[21]

The School team played well that summer with victories over Dunfermline and Edinburgh Academy - with Holms in the side.[22]

He played for Glasgow Cricket club; and was second in their batting averages in 1889, just behind A. G. G. Asher. The team also included such dual rugby union and cricket players:- Frank Hunter, Leslie Balfour-Melville, Andrew Ramsay Don-Wauchope, Thomas Roger Marshall and Henry Stevenson.[23]

He was also playing for the Edinburgh club Grange in that same year.[24][25]

The Blair Lodge cricket club got their facts wrong in 1896 and were corrected by the Edinburgh Evening News. Blair Lodge C.C. had claimed that their 302 scored against Glenalmond was a record. The newspaper went on to list times where 302 was exceeded. It did then list the Scottish records that Blair Lodge did hold, including a 557 for 4 wickets against Campsie Glen in 1884. In this match, Holms scored the largest score held by a schoolboy at cricket - 303 not out. This was still the record in June 1896.[26]

In 1885, he won the 100 yards sprint in the Blair Lodge Sports Day with a time of 10.5 seconds; and he won the quarter-mile race in 56 seconds; and the 300 yards handicap race in 32.5 seconds. He won the long jump and was second in the shot putt.[27]

In 1886 he was at the RIE College at Coopers Hill. He entered their Sports Day. At the time of print of The Sporting Life newspaper Holms had won his heat for the 100 yards dash and was favourite for the final, clocking a time of 11 seconds with newspaper noting the simple phrase won easily.[28]

He worked in the Indian Civil Service. He was awarded the CIE; the Companion class of the Order of the Indian Empire.[29]