Mexborough and Swinton Times March 30, 1928

Roy Kilner.
Famous Wombwell Cricketer
Attacked by Para-Typhoid.
Home From India

Roy Kilner, the Yorkshire County cricketer and idol of sportsmen in South Yorkshire, reached Wombwell on Tuesday from India, where, with his colleagues Dolphin and Leyland, he has been fulfilling a coaching engagement with H.R.H. the Maharajah of Patiala.

It was a sorry homecoming, for Kilner did the last stage of the journey from London in a motor ambulance. He was a sick inn, and his complaint has since been diagnosed as para-typhoid. He is now under treatment at Kendray Hospital, Barnsley, after spending only one night at home. On the return journey the cricketers took the overland route from Marseilles, and it was while travelling in the train that  Kilner first experienced untoward symptoms. He developed a temperature, became listless, and generally felt unwell. His first thought, was that his condition was due to sea sickness and the strain of travelling, but on reaching London he was still far from well.

Mrs. Kilner met him in the metropolis, and as Roy had been engaged with other noted cricketers, including Herbert Sutcliffe, to take part in Gamage’s Cricket Week, they took rooms at the Great Central Hotel. Roy went out for an airing on Saturday morning, and the following day felt slightly improved. Later in the day, however, he was taken ill again, and, perspired freely.

Mrs. Kiiner thought it advisable to -consult a doctor. The patient was seen by Dr. P. K. Bryan, who expressed certain fears.    There was some suggestion of Kilner being taken to one of the metropolitan hospitals, but at his own urgent wish arrangements were made for him to be brought north. In the meantime, a rumour had been given currency to the effect that Kilner was suffering from an internal complaint. Fortunately this report proved to be unfounded. Accordingly, Mrs. Kilner commissioned a motor ambulance. A luxurious vehicle was provided by the Daimler Hire Co., and everything was done to make the patient as comfortable as possible.            The party consisted .of Mr. and Mrs. Kilner, the driver, and an attendant, Mrs .Kilner accompanying her husband in the ambulance. The party left London shortly after 2 o’clock on Tuesday afternoon, and, after a short halt at Derby, arrived at Wombwell just before 9 o’clock the same evening.

While at Derby Mrs. Kilner wired to Wombwell, and according to arrangement the ambulance went direct to the surgery of Dr. W. C. Jardine, Kilner having expressed a wish to be examined by his own medical adviser. On the doctor’s instructions the patient was taken home, and later the same evening Dr. Jardine took a blood test. This was subjected to pathological examination, and Kilner was  declared to be suffering from para-typhoid fever. The following day (Wednesday) he was admitted to hospital.

It would appear that Dr. Bryan who had seen Kilner in London, suspected certain symptoms. In a note carried by the ambulance attendant he informed Dr. Jardine that in. his opinion Kilner was suffering from an attack of fever, which might be enteric fever. “The pathological report is ‘doubtful ‘positive.’ This should be repeated.” The patient had a high temperature, but otherwise the symptoms were not very pronounced.

At Wombwell a crowd of people had anticipated Kilner’s return, and had prepared to give him a suitable reception. . Apart from his own family, however, very few people had the slightest idea of his illness. Concern was general when he arrived in an ambulance. The sympathy of a wide circle of friends ‘ will go out to the popular Yorkshireman. Kilner loves his home as much as anyone and had looked forward eagerly to enjoying a few weeks in the company of his wife, his boys, his parents, his brothers and sisters, and a host of bosom friends at Wombwell.

Naturally, Mrs. Kilner is also deeply concerned about her husband’s health, and in a true wifely way is more disappointed for her husband’s sake than her own. With as much composure as she could command in the circumstances, she told a representative of the “Mexboro’ and Swinton Times.’ that they had talked affectionately of his boys, and had spoken of the pleasures they were to have with his wireless, his car, and in planning their new house at Sandal”.

It is not generally known that Mr. and Mrs Kilner are having a new house built at Sandall, near Wakefield. The work of construction has been going on while Roy has been away, and building has proceeded up to the point when it will be necessary to discuss the interior appointments.. To all these matters Roy had looked forward with pleasant anticipation. One thing, however, both Roy and Mrs. Kilner will be glad of, and that is that he is not to experience the isolation he would have had to endure in London. There will be ‘facilities at ‘Barnsley for his friends and relatives to see him periodically.

There will be -much speculation in county cricket circles as to whether Kilner’s ilIness will affect his arrangements with the county. It may be taken for granted that it will. If all goes well with him—we sincerely hope he will have a speedy recovery—he is not likely to be able to leave the hospital for six or seven weeks at least.

After that he will have to undergo a period of convalescence, and it is quite likely that as long a period as ten or eleven weeks will elapse before he is able to wield the willow again for Yorkshire. This, as will be readily appreciated, will be a great loss to the county. As usual, the cricketers have had a pleasant time as the guests of the Maharajah. Roy appreciates very highly the kindnesses they have enjoyed. It is doubtful however, whether he will go to India again.
The winter of 1926-7 was the first he has had at home for ten years, and strong as he is the strain must obviously be telling on him.

An enquiry at the Kendra a hospital yesterday we were informed that Roy Kilner was “still very ill, and must expect to remain so for some days.”