His father, George Hearne, had played for Middlesex and became the groundsman at Kent's Private Banks Sports Ground in Catford.

[5] As his career progressed Hearne developed into an off-break bowler after bowling leg-breaks began to cause injury problems for him.

By the end of his Kent career Hearne was established as the leading run scorer and wicket taker in club history.

[7] He was the first Kent player to score 10,000 runs and take 1,000 wickets for the county in first-class cricket and remains one of only two to do so, the other being Frank Woolley.

[8] Hearne played first-class cricket for 23 seasons in total, making his final appearance for Kent in the 1906 County Championship winning side.

[5][11][12] After he retired, Hearne became a coach at Kent's Tonbridge Nursery, an important player development centre for the county.