Frank Hadow

Frank Hadow was of seven brothers - six of who attended Harrow - who excelled at cricket and rackets. His oldest brother, Douglas, died during the descent of the first ascent of the Matterhorn in 1865. Hadow was in the Harrow XI and went on the play a few games for Middlesex and MCC, as well as some other representative games, but much of his time was spent abroad, primarily in Ceylon where he ran a plantation.

It was in tennis that he achieved his enduring place in history, winning the second Wimbledon Championships in 1878 with a 7-5, 6-1, 9-7 victory over the first winner, Spencer Gore (himself a first-class cricketer). He played while on leave from Ceylon, and when asked if he would defend his title he is reported to have replied: "No sir. It's a sissy's game played with a soft ball." It was to be almost half a century before he returned to SW19 to pick up a medallion from Queen Mary as the oldest surviving champion.
Martin Williamson

Patrick Francis Hadow, died at Bridgwater on June 29, aged 91. One of the seven sons of P. D. Hadow, himself an Old Harrovian, he and three brothers played in the Harrow XI, W. H., who died in 1898, being specially famous. P. F. took a large share in the victory over a powerful Eton XI in 1873, when he patiently scored 54 not out, and Harrow, getting 167 in the last innings, won by five wickets. He played a little for Middlesex before going to Ceylon where he settled down as a tea planter. Three of the brothers played rackets for Harrow in the Public Schools Challenge Competition, and P. F., with F. D. Leyland, won the Cup in 1873. Five years later he won the Lawn Tennis Amateur Championship at Wimbledon, beating S. W. Gore, who was in the Harrow XI from 1867-69.
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack