[2] He played cricket for Staffordshire in the Minor Counties Championship,[3] making one appearance in 1901 against Northamptonshire and another in 1911, against Lincolnshire.

[5] However, following his election, it was discovered that Preston had received payments for two small contracts to supply electrical fittings to the Post Office stores department.

[6] Having overcome his legal difficulties, Preston was selected as Conservative candidate at the ensuing by-election.

At the 1929 general election there was a swing to Labour, and he was defeated by the party's candidate John James McShane.

William Preston died after a long illness at his home, Gorway, Walsall in November 1941, aged 67.