CELEBRATIONS have been held in the town to mark 100 years since legendary Malvern sportsman R.E. Foster passed away.
Reginald Erskine or ‘Tip’ as he was widely known was one of 11 children from Sophia and Rev Henry Foster, whose descendants were present at the commemorative events last Tuesday (May 13).
A private service was held at Great Malvern Cemetery in the morning where graves of some of the family members restored by Malvern Civic Society were unveiled.
Following that there was a thanksgiving at the chapel at Malvern College where Rev Henry was a house master for 48 years.
For a time Worcestershire became known as ‘Fostershire’ after most of the Foster children became prominent sports people.
But Tip is widely regarded as the most famous after becoming the only man to captain England at football and cricket as well as still holding the record debut innings for his 287 runs against Australia in Sydney in 1903.
He died aged 36 of diabetes in 1914, years before effective treatments had been discovered.
Dr Jonathan Fisher, descendant of one of Tip’s brothers, said: “It has been a very emotional day for the family paying tribute and homage.
“It has been brilliant. The graves have been wonderfully restored by Malvern Civic Society.”
