Billy Griffith
Encyclopedia
Stewart Cathie Griffith, CBE
, DFC
, TD
(16 June 1914 — 7 April 1993) known as Billy Griffith, was an English
cricket
er and cricket administrator. He played in three Test matches
for England in 1948 and 1949.
He played first-class cricket
for Cambridge University
(1934 - 1936), Surrey
(1934), MCC
(1935/1936 - 1953), Sussex
(1937 - 1954) and England (1947/1948 - 1948/1949).
, London
and educated at Dulwich
and Cambridge
. He scored over 1,200 runs during four years in the 1st XI at Dulwich, despite being in the shadow of Hugh Bartlett
and he became a capable wicket-keeper
. He won his blue in his second year at Cambridge. He toured Australia
and New Zealand
with the MCC
under Errol Holmes
's captaincy in (1935/1936 - 1936/1937). He lost his Cambridge place to Paul Gibb
in 1937.
After graduating from Cambridge, he returned to Dulwich as cricket master and he became the first choice wicket-keeper for Sussex in 1939.
He was commissioned into the Officers Training Corps
in 1938, and transferred to the Royal Army Service Corps
in 1939. He later served in the Glider Pilot Regiment
with Hugh Bartlett. As second-in-command he carried the commander of the 6th Airborne Division, Major-General "Windy" Gale into Normandy
, crash landing after being caught in a storm. He took part in the Battle of Arnhem
and won the Distinguished Flying Cross
. He remained in the Territorial Army after the war, reaching the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.
He was appointed captain-secretary of Sussex in 1946. Although he relinquished the captaincy after one year, his wicket-keeping form earned him selection for the MCC tour of the West Indies in 1947-48. On his Test debut he was used as a makeshift opener as three senior batsmen were ill, and made 140 in six hours. It made him the only England player to make his maiden century on his Test debut. He toured South Africa
(under F.G. Mann) in 1948-49 and played in the final two Tests, the only wicket-keeper to be preferred to Godfrey Evans
between 1946 and 1959 when he was available to play. On his retur,n he retired to take up an appointment as the cricket correspondent of The Sunday Times
. After two years in this role, he was appointed by the MCC in 1952 as one of two assistant secretaries to Ronnie Aird
at Lord's
.
He succeeded Aird as the Secretary of the MCC in 1962, and he oversaw the abolition of the amateur status, the introduction of one-day cricket, the creation of the Test and County Cricket Board
, the Cricket Council and the 'D'Oliveira Affair
'. His busy schedule in 1962-63 prevented him from managing the MCC tour of Australia in 1962–63
, except for one month when he flew out to relieve the Duke of Norfolk
. Aware of M.J.K. Smith's natural caution on the MCC tour of Australia in 1965–66
, Griffith was given extraordinary powers granting him overall control of cricket while managering the tour. Fortunately, he did not resort to these as he preferred more diplomatic means, but he urged attacking cricket in the tour games, notably against Western Australia
. Smith asked him when he should declare, Griffith said "Now!" and the MCC won by nine runs in the last minute. The deadpan Smith observed "that's the last time I take the ruddy manager's advice on a declaration".
He was a gentleman of enormous natural charm, who was popular throughout the cricket world. He retired in 1974, and he later served as Chairman of the Friends of Arundel Castle Cricket Club. His son, Mike Griffith
, also captained Sussex.
Billy Griffith died in Felpham
, West Sussex
, following a long illness in 1993, aged 78.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
, TD
Territorial Decoration
The Territorial Decoration was a medal of the United Kingdom awarded for long service in the Territorial Force and its successor, the Territorial Army...
(16 June 1914 — 7 April 1993) known as Billy Griffith, was an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er and cricket administrator. He played in three Test matches
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
for England in 1948 and 1949.
He played first-class cricket
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
for Cambridge University
Cambridge University Cricket Club
Cambridge University Cricket Club is a first-class cricket team. It now plays all but one of its first-class cricket matches as part of the Cambridge University Centre of Cricketing Excellence , which includes Anglia Ruskin University...
(1934 - 1936), Surrey
Surrey County Cricket Club
Surrey County Cricket Club is one of the 18 professional county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Surrey. Its limited overs team is called the Surrey Lions...
(1934), MCC
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
(1935/1936 - 1953), Sussex
Sussex County Cricket Club
Sussex County Cricket Club is the oldest of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Sussex. The club was founded as a successor to Brighton Cricket Club which was a representative of the county of Sussex as a...
(1937 - 1954) and England (1947/1948 - 1948/1949).
Life and career
Griffith was born in WandsworthWandsworth
Wandsworth is a district of south London, England, in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated southwest of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-Toponymy:...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and educated at Dulwich
Dulwich College
Dulwich College is an independent school for boys in Dulwich, southeast London, England. The college was founded in 1619 by Edward Alleyn, a successful Elizabethan actor, with the original purpose of educating 12 poor scholars as the foundation of "God's Gift". It currently has about 1,600 boys,...
and Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
. He scored over 1,200 runs during four years in the 1st XI at Dulwich, despite being in the shadow of Hugh Bartlett
Hugh Bartlett
Hugh Tryon Bartlett DFC was a brilliant attacking left-handed batsman who played for Sussex on either side of the war.-Early years:...
and he became a capable wicket-keeper
Wicket-keeper
The wicket-keeper in the sport of cricket is the player on the fielding side who stands behind the wicket or stumps being guarded by the batsman currently on strike...
. He won his blue in his second year at Cambridge. He toured Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
with the MCC
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
under Errol Holmes
Errol Holmes
Errol Reginald Thorold Holmes, born at Calcutta on 21 August 1905 and died in London on 16 August 1960, was a cricketer who played for Oxford University, Surrey and England....
's captaincy in (1935/1936 - 1936/1937). He lost his Cambridge place to Paul Gibb
Paul Gibb
Paul Gibb was an English cricketer, who played in eight Tests for England from 1938 to 1946. He also played first-class cricket for Cambridge University and Yorkshire, mostly as a batsman but occasionally also keeping wicket.Gibb was educated at St Edward's School, Oxford, and played first-class...
in 1937.
After graduating from Cambridge, he returned to Dulwich as cricket master and he became the first choice wicket-keeper for Sussex in 1939.
He was commissioned into the Officers Training Corps
Officers Training Corps
The Officer Training Corps is a part of the British Army which provides military leadership training to students at UK universities...
in 1938, and transferred to the Royal Army Service Corps
Royal Army Service Corps
The Royal Army Service Corps was a corps of the British Army. It was responsible for land, coastal and lake transport; air despatch; supply of food, water, fuel, and general domestic stores such as clothing, furniture and stationery ; administration of...
in 1939. He later served in the Glider Pilot Regiment
Glider Pilot Regiment
The Glider Pilot Regiment was a British airborne forces unit of the Second World War which was responsible for crewing the British Army's military gliders and saw action in the European Theatre of World War II in support of Allied airborne operations...
with Hugh Bartlett. As second-in-command he carried the commander of the 6th Airborne Division, Major-General "Windy" Gale into Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, crash landing after being caught in a storm. He took part in the Battle of Arnhem
Battle of Arnhem
The Battle of Arnhem was a famous Second World War military engagement fought in and around the Dutch towns of Arnhem, Oosterbeek, Wolfheze, Driel and the surrounding countryside from 17–26 September 1944....
and won the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
. He remained in the Territorial Army after the war, reaching the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.
He was appointed captain-secretary of Sussex in 1946. Although he relinquished the captaincy after one year, his wicket-keeping form earned him selection for the MCC tour of the West Indies in 1947-48. On his Test debut he was used as a makeshift opener as three senior batsmen were ill, and made 140 in six hours. It made him the only England player to make his maiden century on his Test debut. He toured South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
(under F.G. Mann) in 1948-49 and played in the final two Tests, the only wicket-keeper to be preferred to Godfrey Evans
Godfrey Evans
Thomas Godfrey Evans CBE was an English cricketer who played for Kent and England.Described by Wisden as 'arguably the best wicket-keeper the game has ever seen', Evans collected 219 dismissals in 91 Test match appearances between 1946 and 1959 and a total of 1066 in all first-class matches...
between 1946 and 1959 when he was available to play. On his retur,n he retired to take up an appointment as the cricket correspondent of The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times (UK)
The Sunday Times is a Sunday broadsheet newspaper, distributed in the United Kingdom. The Sunday Times is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of News International, which is in turn owned by News Corporation. Times Newspapers also owns The Times, but the two papers were founded...
. After two years in this role, he was appointed by the MCC in 1952 as one of two assistant secretaries to Ronnie Aird
Ronnie Aird
Ronald Aird, MC was an English cricketer and administrator.Ronnie Aird was born in Paddington, London and he played 136 first-class matches as a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium bowler for Cambridge University and Hampshire between 1920 and 1938. He was a good cricketer, but he will be...
at Lord's
Lord's Cricket Ground
Lord's Cricket Ground is a cricket venue in St John's Wood, London. Named after its founder, Thomas Lord, it is owned by Marylebone Cricket Club and is the home of Middlesex County Cricket Club, the England and Wales Cricket Board , the European Cricket Council and, until August 2005, the...
.
He succeeded Aird as the Secretary of the MCC in 1962, and he oversaw the abolition of the amateur status, the introduction of one-day cricket, the creation of the Test and County Cricket Board
Test and County Cricket Board
The Test and County Cricket Board was established in 1968 to provide Test and county cricket in England, replacing the functions of the Board of Control for Test Matches and the Advisory County Cricket Committee. In 1992 Scotland severed their ties with the TCCB and England...
, the Cricket Council and the 'D'Oliveira Affair
Basil D'Oliveira
Basil Lewis D'Oliveira CBE , known affectionately around the world as "Dolly", was a South African-born English cricketer. D'Oliveira was classified as 'coloured' under the apartheid regime, and hence barred from first-class cricket, resulting in his emigration to England...
'. His busy schedule in 1962-63 prevented him from managing the MCC tour of Australia in 1962–63
MCC tour of Australia in 1962–63
The Marylebone Cricket Club tour of Australia in 1962–63 under the captaincy of Ted Dexter was its twelfth since it took official control of overseas tours in 1907–1908. The touring team played as England in the 1962–63 Ashes series against Australia, but as the MCC in all other games...
, except for one month when he flew out to relieve the Duke of Norfolk
Bernard Fitzalan-Howard, 16th Duke of Norfolk
Bernard Marmaduke Fitzalan-Howard, 16th Duke of Norfolk, , styled Earl of Arundel and Surrey until 1917, was the eldest surviving son of Henry Fitzalan-Howard, 15th Duke of Norfolk, who died when Bernard was only 9 years old...
. Aware of M.J.K. Smith's natural caution on the MCC tour of Australia in 1965–66
MCC tour of Australia in 1965–66
The Marylebone Cricket Club tour of Australia in 1965-66 under the captaincy of M.J.K. Smith was its thirteenth since it took official control of overseas tours in 1907-1908. The touring team played as England in the 1965-66 Ashes series against Australia, but as the MCC in all other games...
, Griffith was given extraordinary powers granting him overall control of cricket while managering the tour. Fortunately, he did not resort to these as he preferred more diplomatic means, but he urged attacking cricket in the tour games, notably against Western Australia
Western Warriors
The Western Australia cricket team are an Australian first class cricket team representing the state of Western Australia...
. Smith asked him when he should declare, Griffith said "Now!" and the MCC won by nine runs in the last minute. The deadpan Smith observed "that's the last time I take the ruddy manager's advice on a declaration".
He was a gentleman of enormous natural charm, who was popular throughout the cricket world. He retired in 1974, and he later served as Chairman of the Friends of Arundel Castle Cricket Club. His son, Mike Griffith
Mike Griffith
Mike Grenville Griffith, born at Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire on 25 November 1943, was a cricketer who played for and captained Sussex. A middle-order right-handed batsman, he also kept wicket occasionally....
, also captained Sussex.
Billy Griffith died in Felpham
Felpham
Felpham is a village and civil parish in the Arun District of West Sussex, England. Although sometimes considered part of the greater Bognor Regis habitation it is a village and civil parish in its own right, having an area of 4.26 km² with a population of 9611 people and still growing .The...
, West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
, following a long illness in 1993, aged 78.