The year of 1969 saw the deaths of three Yorkshire cricketers – one had been a stalwart of the great inter-War sides – as well as two departures. Paul Dyson looks back at the quintet’s varied careers. The 1967 photo of Chris Balderstone appears by courtesy of Mick Pope.
Of the three former Yorkshire players who passed away in 1969 the first to depart was Claude Anson – on March 26th. Born in Bradford in 1889, he attended Pocklington School and showed promise as an all-rounder but represented the county just once in first-class cricket. He made 27 runs in two innings against Derbyshire at Chesterfield but also, as an amateur, had the honour of leading the county against Scotland. An enthusiastic club cricketer, he played for York, Cawodd, whom he captained, and Yorkshire Gentlemen. A county alderman, he lived at The Grange, Cawood and died there.
Emmott Robinson died in the November of 1969 in Hinckley, Leicestershire; he made his debut 100 years ago in 1919 and so has very recently been profiled in this series.
Six days after Robinson’s death came the sad news, on November 23rd 1969, that one of Yorkshire’s former captains had passed away. Everard Radcliffe led Yorkshire in 1911 in the first season after the retirement of Lord Hawke, having captained the side in Hawke’s absence in each of 1909 and 1910. Of the 63 first-class matches in which he was captain, 56 were in the Championship and his results were won 25 lost 10. The county finished seventh in 1911.
Born near Tiverton, Devon, Radcliffe led the first eleven at Downside School in the final two years of his four in the team. He then went up to Oxford but did not play for the University team. A typical amateur captain in that he was not good enough to play first-class cricket, he scored only 826 runs in his 64 games and averaged a mere 10.86. In 1949 he suceeded to his family title, becoming its Fifth Baronet and with it being entitled to be called Sir Everard. The family occupied Rudding Park, Harrogate from 1824 until 1972 – three years after Radcliffe’s death which was at St Trinian’s Hall, Richmond.
