Patrick Vaulkhard, who died in Ipswich on 1 April 1995, was a member of a distinguished Nottinghamshire cricketing family.
His father, W H Valkhard, was involved in Sir Julien Cahn’s team from its earliest years, Patrick and his brothers all became a part of Cahn’s side as they left school and took part in club cricket. The family were also staunch members of Notts Amateurs CC and the brothers served on the committee of the Amateurs as well as holding various offices.
Patrick Valkhard was living in London when he was selected to play for Nottinghamshire in 1934 - he had debuted for Nottinghamshire Second XI in the Minor Counties Championship at the age of nineteen in June 1931 - and played a total of nine matches in the season without much success. He took his sole First-Class wicket as a bowler against Sussex in June of that year.
He later moved to Northumberland, representing that county in 1939. During the war he served in the Durham Light Infantry and returning in 1946 made his debut for Derbyshire.
The high spot of his career came during that summer when he hit 264 off the Notts attack at Trent Bridge – it was the highest First-Class innings made during the year and his only three figure score.
He continued to appear for Derbyshire until 1952, and led the county in 1950. Always an attacking batsman, Vaulkhard hit the ball very hard and spectators expected plenty of sixes when he was at the crease.
Pat Vaulkhard died in Cambridge at the age of 83. Vaulkhard's brother, Geoffrey, represented Nottinghamshire's Second XI in 1949, while another brother, Denis, represented the same team in 1931.
April 2020
Nottinghamshire First-Class Number: 352