- Neville Ford
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Neville Ford Personal information Full name Neville Montague Ford Born 18 November 1906
Repton Derbyshire, EnglandDied 15 June 2000 (aged 93)
Bembridge, Isle of Wight, EnglandBatting style Right-handed batsman Domestic team information Years Team 1926–1934 Derbyshire 1928–1930 Oxford University 1932 Middlesex 1932 MCC First-class debut 18 August 1926 Derbyshire v Northamptonshire Last First-class 8 June 1935 Free Foresters v Cambridge University Career statistics Competition First-class Matches 75 Runs scored 2925 Batting average 26.11 100s/50s 5/13 Top score 183 Balls bowled 135 Wickets 1 Bowling average 117.00 5 wickets in innings 10 wickets in match Best bowling 1–19 Catches/stumpings 15/- Source: [1], November 2011 Neville Montague Ford (18 November 1906 – 15 June 2000) was an English cricketer who played for Derbyshire, Oxford University, Middlesex and MCC between 1926 and 1934.
Ford was born at Repton, the son of the Rev Lionel Ford and his wife May Talbot. His father was then headmaster of Repton School and in 1910 became headmaster of Harrow School. His mother was the daughter of Edward Stuart Talbot, who was successively Bishop of Rochester, Southwark and Winchester.[1]
Ford was educated at West Downs School and Harrow where he became head of the school and captain of cricket. While still at school he began playing for Derbyshire. He made his debut in August 1926 in a victory against Northamptonshire and followed it up with a draw against Kent. He played two games for Derbyshire in 1927.
Ford then went to Oriel College, Oxford having been awarded the Evelyn de Rothschild scholarship. At Oxford he played cricket for Oxford University in three successive years from 1928 to 1930. His centuries all came for Oxford and were 151 against Nottinghamshire and 118 against Free Foresters in 1929 and 155 against Kent, 183 against the Free Foresters and 180 against Surrey in 1930. Against Surrey he added 276 for the fourth wicket with Patrick Kingsley in under three hours. Ford also won half Blues for rackets and fives at Oxford. Meanwhile he continued playing for Derbyshire at the end of seasons and also put in a game for minor county Devon in 1929.
After Oxford, Ford joined the British Metal Corporation, and played for a variety of sides including the MCC and Free Foresters and made an appearance for Middlesex in 1932. He was back with Derbyshire in 1934 and played 6 matches that year. In 1937 he toured Canada with MCC. Ford was a right-hand batsman and played 121 innings in 75 first-class matches. He made 2,925 runs at an average of 26.11, with five centuries and a top score of 183. As a bowler he took one wicket and his average was 117.[2]
Ford had moved to work for the paper manufacturers Wiggins Teape and joined up in the Second World War. He served in the Berkshire Yeomanry and then the Household Cavalry. In 1940 he was ADC to Major-General Adrian Carton de Wiart during the Norway campaign. When he took part in Operation Overlord, Ford acquired the nickname "Foghorn". A captured German officer, having heard him on the radio leading armoured cars advancing into Belgium, inquired after him: "Excuse me, we have grown very fond of the British officer with the foghorn voice. We haven't heard him lately. Is he still alive?"[3]
After the war, Ford rejoined Wiggins Teape, and became a director. For many years he was on the board of directors of the Theatre Royal, Windsor and supported the Royal Ballet's School of dancing. He was still playing cricket for the Household Division in his sixties. When his grandson Edward "Bear" Grylls neared the summit as the youngest Briton to climb Mount Everest, Ford gave him encouragement over the satellite telephone.[4]
Ford died at Bembridge, Isle of Wight at the age of 94. At the time of his death he was the longest surviving member of both MCC and the Free Foresters.
Ford married in 1941 Patricia Smiles, who in 1953 became MP for North Down and had two daughters – Sally, who married Sir Michael Grylls and whose son is explorer Bear Grylls,[5] and Mary Rose, who is married and has two daughters. The marriage was dissolved in 1956 and his ex-wife then married Sir Nigel Fisher MP in 1956. In 1975 Ford married Beatrice Hudson, who predeceased him.
Ford's brother Sir Edward Ford became assistant private secretary to King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II.
Ford belonged to a large family of cricketers. His grandfather William Augustus Ford played for MCC from 1839 to 1849. His father and brother Clifford also played for minor counties. Of his uncles Francis Ford played for England, Middlesex and MCC, William Justice Ford played for Cambridge University, Middlesex and MCC, Augustus Ford played for Cambridge University, Middlesex and MCC. His uncle Neville Talbot played for Oxford University and his grandmother, the daughter of the 4th Lord Lyttelton, belonged to another family of cricketers.[6]
References
Categories:- 1906 births
- 2000 deaths
- Old Harrovians
- Alumni of Oriel College, Oxford
- Derbyshire cricketers
- Oxford University cricketers
- Middlesex cricketers
- Marylebone Cricket Club cricketers
- English cricketers
- British Army personnel of World War II
- Berkshire Yeomanry officers
- Devon cricketers
- Free Foresters cricketers
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