Ham Lambert
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 Ireland (Ire) |
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| Batting style | Right-handed batsman | |
| Bowling type | None | |
| First-class record | ||
| Matches | 9 | |
| Runs scored | 213 | |
| Batting average | 14.20 | |
| 100s/50s | 0/1 | |
| Top score | 69* | |
| Balls bowled | 0 | |
| Wickets | - | |
| Bowling average | - | |
| 5 wickets in innings | - | |
| 10 wickets in match | - | |
| Best Bowling | - | |
| Catches/Stumpings | 5/0 | |
| First class debut: 18 June 1932 Last first class game: 25 June 1947 Source: Cricket Archive |
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Noel Hamilton "Ham" Lambert (born 5 June 1910 in Dublin, Ireland; died 10 October 2006 in County Wicklow) was an Irish cricketer and Rugby Union player. By profession a Veterinary Surgeon, he was noted for being the first in Ireland to own a practice devoted to the care of companion animals.
He is buried in Schull in Co Cork, Ireland. The epitaph on his gravestone reads, simply, "A Lovely Man".
[edit] Veterinary Career
Ham Lambert was born into a family of Veterinary Surgeons. His grandfather was veterinary surgeon to three reigning monarchs, Queen Victoria, King Edwards VII and King George V, his father ran a practice which cared for the draught horses of Dublin from the turn of the 20th century until the early 1930s when working horses became less numerous.
Ham was educated at Sandford Park School in Dublin and at Rossall School in Lancashire, England before entering the Veterinary College in Dublin in 1927. Following graduation he built up an extensive cattle practice, covering a huge radius from Sallins to Malahide to Enniskerry, from a base in Richmond St in Dublin. In the early 1940s he visited America to learn more about the treatment of dogs and cats and in 1952 sold his cattle practice and opened Ireland's first small animal practice at Richmond St. His practice was a model of its kind and hundreds of veterinary students and graduates spent time there learning the art as well as the science of veterinary medicine.
His was the first practice in Ireland to employ qualified veterinary nurses and until the early 1970s it was the only centre in Ireland recognised for the training of nurses by the RCVS.
He was noted thoughout the profession for his early adoption of aseptic techniques and for his belief in the value of Vitamin E in the treatment and prevention of circulatory conditions. He frequently prescribed Vitamin E not just to animals in his care but their owners also.
Ham retired officially from veterinary practice in 1979 at the age of 69, but was still seeing cases privately at his home well into his nineties.
He was a long time supporter and fundraiser for Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, serving on its board for many years.
[edit] Sporting Career
In cricket, he was a right-handed batsman, making his debut for Ireland against the MCC at Lord's in July 1931, and going on to play for Ireland on 21 occasions. His last game was against Derbyshire in June 1947. Nine of his matches for Ireland had first-class status.
Outside of cricket, he also represented Ireland at Rugby Union, playing twice for them in 1934 against Scotland and Wales. He later became a Rugby Union referee, refereeing nine Five Nations matches between 1948 and 1952.
Following his retirement he maintained his involvement in rugby, particularly through the Leinster Branch Association of Referees, where for more than 50 years he was both trainer and mentor for generations of referees. He was still assisting with the training of referees at the age of 91. In 2005 he was awarded a special cap for his services as a referee by the IRFU at a ceremony held in Dublin.
In later years he was a keen and competitive golfer, playing regularly at Carrickmines Golf Club and winning the runner-up prize at the Leinster Referees Association golf outing in his 90th year.
