Derrick Bailey
Encyclopedia
Sir Derrick Thomas Louis Bailey, 3rd Baronet, DFC
(15 August 1918 — 19 June 2009) was the son of the South Africa
n entrepreneur Sir Abe Bailey
and of the pioneer aviator Dame Mary Bailey
, and won fame for himself as a decorated Second World War pilot, a cricket
er and a businessman. Inheriting his father's
baronetcy in 1946 from his elder half-brother, he was known for the last 63 years of his life as Sir Derrick Bailey.
in London
, Derrick Bailey was Sir Abe Bailey's second son, and the first son of Abe Bailey's second marriage. He had a twin sister, Ann. Derrick Bailey was educated at Winchester College
, where he was in the cricket eleven as a right-handed batsman in 1936. He also attended Christ Church, Oxford
and played Minor Counties cricket for Oxfordshire
in 1937, achieving some success as a medium-pace right-arm bowler, with 12 wickets, but less as a batsman, with a highest score of just 33 in nine innings. He played in the Oxford University
Freshmen's trial match in 1937, scoring 53 in the second innings before retiring; though this was the joint highest score in the match, he was never picked for a full Oxford University team.
Bailey served with the South African Irish Regiment
and then with the South African Air Force
during the Second World War. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
on 25 August 1944 for "gallantry and devotion to duty in the execution of air operations" flying with No. 223 Squadron RAF
(later renumbered No. 30 Squadron, South African Air Force).
, began playing cricket fairly regularly as a middle order batsman and medium-pace bowler for Gloucestershire
's second eleven in the Minor Counties championship. In 1949, he made his first-class cricket
debut in a heavy defeat for Gloucestershire away to Somerset
at Taunton, batting at No 7, scoring 0 and 5, and not bowling. He then retained his place for the next five first team matches, though his record of 70 runs at a batting average of 8.75 runs per innings and a tally of just two wickets indicates little success. He was, however, awarded his county cap. He played – more as a batsman than as a bowler – for the second eleven later the same season, and continued in that fashion for the second team across 1950, until the match with Surrey
's second eleven at the end of July 1950 when, with Gloucestershire facing a heavy defeat by that season's Minor Counties champions, Bailey opened the innings and scored an unbeaten 129 to save the match.
That innings led to a recall to the first team and though Bailey again took time to make a mark, in his third match, the game against Worcestershire
at Cheltenham
, he saved Gloucestershire from defeat by making 54 in 70 minutes at a time when Worcestershire's fast bowlers were getting lift from the pitch.
At the end of the 1950 season, Basil Allen
, who had captained Gloucestershire in 1937–38 and from 1947 to 1950, retired, and Sir Derrick Bailey was appointed as his successor for the 1951 season, having been one of only a handful of amateur cricketers who had played for the county in the previous two years.
Gloucestershire under Bailey in 1951 dropped from seventh in the County Championship
to twelfth, but Wisden
claimed that "statistics told only half the story". Injuries to bowlers and the retirement of Tom Goddard
, mainstay of the bowling attack for the previous 20 years, disrupted the team. Bailey's own performance earned praise from Wisden. His "advance" as a batsman was "satisfying" and "besides leading the side unobtrusively (he) set a great example by his courage and.. recorded his maiden century in first-class cricket". Injuries to batsmen meant that Bailey moved up and down the batting order: mostly he batted at No 6, but when opening batsmen were out of action, he opened the innings. His maiden century came in the second innings of a heavy defeat against Sussex
at Hove; trailing by 273 after the first innings, Bailey promoted himself to No 3 for the second innings and made 111 "displaying special skill in strokes in front of the wicket".
The 111 in the innings against Sussex remained Bailey's highest score, but two weeks later, he made a second century, again batting at No 3, with 101 against Northamptonshire
at Rushden
when, said Wisden, he was the only Gloucestershire batsman to look "completely confident" against the off-spin of Sydney Starkie
. Gloucestershire again lost the match. In the season as a whole, Bailey scored 1003 runs at an average of 30.39 runs per innings; he bowled only 31 overs all season and took just four wickets.
Bailey's second and final season as Gloucestershire captain was 1952. The team improved marginally to ninth in the County Championship and Wisden cited a "lack of batting solidity" as a reason why further success was not achieved. It added: "A point to be remembered was that Gloucestershire almost invariably tried to play attractively. Sometimes they were beaten when risking all to win. To strike the balance between enterprise and match-winning cricket is not always easy." Bailey himself was exonerated from criticism on lack of solidity: "Bailey's defensive stubbornness was worth more than its numerical value." His own batting record was down on his 1951 figures: in the season as a whole he scored 864 runs at an average of 23.35 runs per innings and with a highest score of 82, made as an opening batsman in the match against Essex
at Southend-on-Sea
.
At the end of the 1952 season, Bailey stood down from the captaincy and he did not appear again in first-class cricket. With no amateur available, Gloucestershire broke with tradition and appointed the senior professional player, Jack Crapp
, as captain for the next two seasons.
In later life, Bailey lived on Alderney
in the Channel Islands
. His interests there included the local airline, Aurigny Air Services
, which he set up in 1968 when British United Airways
pulled out of the Alderney to Guernsey
route, the island's regular link with its neighbour. According to the obituary on the BBC Channel Islands website, the Aurigny airline's colours, with a yellow tail section on its planes, were chosen by Bailey in memory of his father's horse racing colours.
Bailey died at his home on Alderney on 19 June 2009.
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...
(15 August 1918 — 19 June 2009) was the son of the 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...
n entrepreneur Sir Abe Bailey
Abe Bailey
Sir Abraham "Abe" Bailey, 1st Baronet, KCMG , was a South African diamond tycoon, politician, financier and cricketer.-Early years:...
and of the pioneer aviator Dame Mary Bailey
Mary Bailey (DBE)
The Hon. Dame Mary Bailey, née Westenra DBE was a British aviatrix.The daughter of Derrick Warner William Westenra, 5th Baron Rossmore, of Rossmore Castle, County Monaghan and his wife, Mittie , Mary Westenra Bailey was known as one of the finest aviatrices of her time, who "personally guided a...
, and won fame for himself as a decorated Second World War pilot, a 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 a businessman. Inheriting his father's
Bailey Baronets
There have been two Baronetcies created for persons with the surname Bailey, both in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom. Both creations are extant as of 2010....
baronetcy in 1946 from his elder half-brother, he was known for the last 63 years of his life as Sir Derrick Bailey.
Early life
Born at MaryleboneMarylebone
Marylebone is an affluent inner-city area of central London, located within the City of Westminster. It is sometimes written as St. Marylebone or Mary-le-bone....
in 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...
, Derrick Bailey was Sir Abe Bailey's second son, and the first son of Abe Bailey's second marriage. He had a twin sister, Ann. Derrick Bailey was educated at Winchester College
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
, where he was in the cricket eleven as a right-handed batsman in 1936. He also attended Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
and played Minor Counties cricket for Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire County Cricket Club
Oxfordshire County Cricket Club is one of the county clubs which make up the Minor Counties in the English domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Oxfordshire and playing in the Minor Counties Championship and the MCCA Knockout Trophy...
in 1937, achieving some success as a medium-pace right-arm bowler, with 12 wickets, but less as a batsman, with a highest score of just 33 in nine innings. He played in the Oxford University
Oxford University Cricket Club
Oxford University Cricket Club is a first-class cricket team, representing the University of Oxford. It plays its home games at the University Parks in Oxford, England...
Freshmen's trial match in 1937, scoring 53 in the second innings before retiring; though this was the joint highest score in the match, he was never picked for a full Oxford University team.
Bailey served with the South African Irish Regiment
South African Irish Regiment
The South African Irish Regiment is an infantry regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Territorial Army or United States Army National Guard unit.-Origins:...
and then with the South African Air Force
South African Air Force
The South African Air Force is the air force of South Africa, with headquarters in Pretoria. It is the world's second oldest independent air force, and its motto is Per Aspera Ad Astra...
during the Second World War. He was awarded 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...
on 25 August 1944 for "gallantry and devotion to duty in the execution of air operations" flying with No. 223 Squadron RAF
No. 223 Squadron RAF
No. 223 Squadron RAF was a squadron of the Royal Air Force. Originally formed as part of the Royal Naval Air Service , the Squadron flew in both World Wars.-History:...
(later renumbered No. 30 Squadron, South African Air Force).
First-class cricket
From 1948, Bailey, now resident as a farmer near HerefordHereford
Hereford is a cathedral city, civil parish and county town of Herefordshire, England. It lies on the River Wye, approximately east of the border with Wales, southwest of Worcester, and northwest of Gloucester...
, began playing cricket fairly regularly as a middle order batsman and medium-pace bowler for Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire County Cricket Club
Gloucestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Gloucestershire. Its limited overs team is called the Gloucestershire Gladiators....
's second eleven in the Minor Counties championship. In 1949, he made his 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...
debut in a heavy defeat for Gloucestershire away to Somerset
Somerset County Cricket Club
Somerset County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Somerset...
at Taunton, batting at No 7, scoring 0 and 5, and not bowling. He then retained his place for the next five first team matches, though his record of 70 runs at a batting average of 8.75 runs per innings and a tally of just two wickets indicates little success. He was, however, awarded his county cap. He played – more as a batsman than as a bowler – for the second eleven later the same season, and continued in that fashion for the second team across 1950, until the match with 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...
's second eleven at the end of July 1950 when, with Gloucestershire facing a heavy defeat by that season's Minor Counties champions, Bailey opened the innings and scored an unbeaten 129 to save the match.
That innings led to a recall to the first team and though Bailey again took time to make a mark, in his third match, the game against Worcestershire
Worcestershire County Cricket Club
Worcestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Worcestershire...
at Cheltenham
College Ground, Cheltenham
The College Ground is a cricket ground in the grounds of Cheltenham College, England. Gloucestershire County Cricket Club have played more than 300 first-class and more than 70 List A matches there; it also hosted a Women's One Day International between England and Australia in 2005.The College...
, he saved Gloucestershire from defeat by making 54 in 70 minutes at a time when Worcestershire's fast bowlers were getting lift from the pitch.
At the end of the 1950 season, Basil Allen
Basil Allen
Basil Oliver Allen was a first-class cricketer. He was born on 13 October 1911 in Clifton, Bristol and died on 1 May 1981 in Wells, Somerset. He was educated at Clifton College....
, who had captained Gloucestershire in 1937–38 and from 1947 to 1950, retired, and Sir Derrick Bailey was appointed as his successor for the 1951 season, having been one of only a handful of amateur cricketers who had played for the county in the previous two years.
Gloucestershire under Bailey in 1951 dropped from seventh in the County Championship
County Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
to twelfth, but Wisden
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack is a cricket reference book published annually in the United Kingdom...
claimed that "statistics told only half the story". Injuries to bowlers and the retirement of Tom Goddard
Tom Goddard
Tom Goddard was the fifth highest wicket taker in first-class cricket....
, mainstay of the bowling attack for the previous 20 years, disrupted the team. Bailey's own performance earned praise from Wisden. His "advance" as a batsman was "satisfying" and "besides leading the side unobtrusively (he) set a great example by his courage and.. recorded his maiden century in first-class cricket". Injuries to batsmen meant that Bailey moved up and down the batting order: mostly he batted at No 6, but when opening batsmen were out of action, he opened the innings. His maiden century came in the second innings of a heavy defeat against 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...
at Hove; trailing by 273 after the first innings, Bailey promoted himself to No 3 for the second innings and made 111 "displaying special skill in strokes in front of the wicket".
The 111 in the innings against Sussex remained Bailey's highest score, but two weeks later, he made a second century, again batting at No 3, with 101 against Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire County Cricket Club
Northamptonshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Northamptonshire. Its limited overs team is called the Northants Steelbacks. The traditional club colour is Maroon. During the...
at Rushden
Rushden
Rushden is a town and civil parish in the county of Northamptonshire, England.The parish of Rushden covers an area of some and is part of the district of East Northamptonshire. The population of Rushden was estimated at around 28,368, making it the fifth largest town in the county...
when, said Wisden, he was the only Gloucestershire batsman to look "completely confident" against the off-spin of Sydney Starkie
Sydney Starkie
Sydney Starkie was an English professional Cricketer wh spent all of his 6 season career at Northamptonshire....
. Gloucestershire again lost the match. In the season as a whole, Bailey scored 1003 runs at an average of 30.39 runs per innings; he bowled only 31 overs all season and took just four wickets.
Bailey's second and final season as Gloucestershire captain was 1952. The team improved marginally to ninth in the County Championship and Wisden cited a "lack of batting solidity" as a reason why further success was not achieved. It added: "A point to be remembered was that Gloucestershire almost invariably tried to play attractively. Sometimes they were beaten when risking all to win. To strike the balance between enterprise and match-winning cricket is not always easy." Bailey himself was exonerated from criticism on lack of solidity: "Bailey's defensive stubbornness was worth more than its numerical value." His own batting record was down on his 1951 figures: in the season as a whole he scored 864 runs at an average of 23.35 runs per innings and with a highest score of 82, made as an opening batsman in the match against Essex
Essex County Cricket Club
Essex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Essex. Its limited overs team is called the Essex Eagles, their team colours this season are blue.The club plays most of its home games...
at Southend-on-Sea
Southchurch Park
Southchurch Park is a cricket ground in Southend, Essex, England. The first recorded match on the ground was in 1906, when Essex played their inaugural first-class match there, beating Leicestershire by five wickets...
.
At the end of the 1952 season, Bailey stood down from the captaincy and he did not appear again in first-class cricket. With no amateur available, Gloucestershire broke with tradition and appointed the senior professional player, Jack Crapp
Jack Crapp
John "Jack" Frederick Crapp was an English cricketer, who played first-class cricket for Gloucestershire between 1936 and 1956, and played for England on tour in the winter of 1948-49....
, as captain for the next two seasons.
After cricket
Alderney
Alderney is the most northerly of the Channel Islands. It is part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, a British Crown dependency. It is long and wide. The area is , making it the third-largest island of the Channel Islands, and the second largest in the Bailiwick...
in the Channel Islands
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...
. His interests there included the local airline, Aurigny Air Services
Aurigny Air Services
Aurigny Air Services was founded by Sir Derrick Bailey and started operations on 1 March 1968 after British United Airways withdrew the Alderney to Guernsey route...
, which he set up in 1968 when British United Airways
British United Airways
British United Airways was a private, independentindependent from government-owned corporations British airline formed as a result of the merger of Airwork Services and Hunting-Clan Air Transport in July 1960, making it the largest wholly private airline based in the United Kingdom at the time...
pulled out of the Alderney to Guernsey
Guernsey
Guernsey, officially the Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy.The Bailiwick, as a governing entity, embraces not only all 10 parishes on the Island of Guernsey, but also the islands of Herm, Jethou, Burhou, and Lihou and their islet...
route, the island's regular link with its neighbour. According to the obituary on the BBC Channel Islands website, the Aurigny airline's colours, with a yellow tail section on its planes, were chosen by Bailey in memory of his father's horse racing colours.
Bailey died at his home on Alderney on 19 June 2009.