Gilbert Ashton
Encyclopedia
Gilbert Ashton MC
(27 September 1896 – 6 February 1981) was an English
cricket
er who played 62 first-class
matches between the wars
, mostly for Cambridge University
(whom he captained in 1921, and also captained at football
) and Worcestershire
. His obituary in Wisden
called him "a fine, aggressive stroke-player" and praised his fielding ability at cover point.
His bowling was of the occasional variety, and after he left Cambridge became essentially non-existent.
was that of headmaster of the prep school
of Abberley Hall School
near Worcester
. However, he played for Worcestershire when he could during the holidays, and in 1922, on only his second appearance for the county, he made 125 (his career-best) and 84 in a match against Northamptonshire
at New Road
.
Wisdens obituary also praised his 36 for an England XI against Warwick Armstrong
's Australians a year earlier, which gave the English hope after having been dismissed for 43 in the first innings, and helped lay the ground for a fine victory.
After 1927, Ashton ceased to play even semi-regular county cricket
, and indeed after that year he was to make only two more first-class appearances: against Northamptonshire in June 1934 and, finally, against Leicestershire
in July 1936. He did very little in either game.
He did, however, play a minor single-innings game for his county against the Royal Air Force
aged 47 in 1944; he was lbw
for nought.
Before going up to Cambridge, Ashton had been captain of the Winchester College
XI. Upon leaving the school, he served in the First World War in the Royal Field Artillery
; it was at this time that he won his MC. He also lost his left thumb during the war, although this was said not to have affected the quality of his fielding in later years.
After retiring from playing, Ashton served as a magistrate
, and was also President of Worcestershire CCC from 1967 to 1969. He was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant
of Worcestershire in 1968.
and Julia Selina Thesiger.
A number of his relatives played first-class cricket: his brothers Claude
and Hubert
had substantial careers for Cambridge and Essex
, while another brother, Percy
, had one game for Essex. Two uncles, Alfred Inglis
and John Inglis reached first-class level briefly in the 1880s. Finally, Ashton's brother-in-law Ralph Huband played twice for Cambridge in 1923.
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(27 September 1896 – 6 February 1981) was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
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 who played 62 first-class
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...
matches between the wars
Interwar period
Interwar period can refer to any period between two wars. The Interbellum is understood to be the period between the end of the Great War or First World War and the beginning of the Second World War in Europe....
, mostly 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...
(whom he captained in 1921, and also captained at football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
) and 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...
. His obituary in Wisden
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack is a cricket reference book published annually in the United Kingdom...
called him "a fine, aggressive stroke-player" and praised his fielding ability at cover point.
His bowling was of the occasional variety, and after he left Cambridge became essentially non-existent.
Career
Ashton played less cricket than his ability merited as his "day job" for four decades from 1921 until 1961was that of headmaster of the prep school
Preparatory school (UK)
In English language usage in the former British Empire, the present-day Commonwealth, a preparatory school is an independent school preparing children up to the age of eleven or thirteen for entry into fee-paying, secondary independent schools, some of which are known as public schools...
of Abberley Hall School
Abberley Hall School
Abberley Hall School is a mixed private boarding school for around 300 pupils aged 2 to 13 with 38 full time and 25 part time teaching staff. About 100 of the pupils are full boarders. It is located in the village of Abberley about halfway between Worcester and Tenbury Wells in the...
near Worcester
Worcester
The City of Worcester, commonly known as Worcester, , is a city and county town of Worcestershire in the West Midlands of England. Worcester is situated some southwest of Birmingham and north of Gloucester, and has an approximate population of 94,000 people. The River Severn runs through the...
. However, he played for Worcestershire when he could during the holidays, and in 1922, on only his second appearance for the county, he made 125 (his career-best) and 84 in a match 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 New Road
New Road, Worcester
New Road, Worcester, England, has been the home cricket ground of Worcestershire County Cricket Club since 1896. Immediately to the northwest is a road called New Road, part of the A44, hence the name.- Overview :...
.
Wisdens obituary also praised his 36 for an England XI against Warwick Armstrong
Warwick Armstrong
Warwick Windridge Armstrong was an Australian cricketer who played 50 Test matches between 1902 and 1921. An all-rounder, he captained Australia in ten Test matches between 1920 and 1921 and was undefeated, winning eight Tests and drawing two...
's Australians a year earlier, which gave the English hope after having been dismissed for 43 in the first innings, and helped lay the ground for a fine victory.
After 1927, Ashton ceased to play even semi-regular county cricket
County cricket
County cricket is the highest level of domestic cricket in England and Wales. For the 2010 season, see 2010 English cricket season.-First-class counties:...
, and indeed after that year he was to make only two more first-class appearances: against Northamptonshire in June 1934 and, finally, against Leicestershire
Leicestershire County Cricket Club
Leicestershire 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 Leicestershire. It has also been representative of the county of Rutland....
in July 1936. He did very little in either game.
He did, however, play a minor single-innings game for his county against the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
aged 47 in 1944; he was lbw
Leg before wicket
In the sport of cricket, leg before wicket is one of the ways in which a batsman can be dismissed. An umpire will rule a batsman out LBW under a series of circumstances which primarily include the ball striking the batsman's body when it would otherwise have continued on to hit the batsman's...
for nought.
Before going up to Cambridge, Ashton had been captain of the 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...
XI. Upon leaving the school, he served in the First World War in the Royal Field Artillery
Royal Field Artillery
The Royal Field Artillery of the British Army provided artillery support for the British Army. It came into being when the Royal Artillery was divided on 1 July 1899, it was reamalgamated back into the Royal Artillery in 1924....
; it was at this time that he won his MC. He also lost his left thumb during the war, although this was said not to have affected the quality of his fielding in later years.
After retiring from playing, Ashton served as a magistrate
Magistrate
A magistrate is an officer of the state; in modern usage the term usually refers to a judge or prosecutor. This was not always the case; in ancient Rome, a magistratus was one of the highest government officers and possessed both judicial and executive powers. Today, in common law systems, a...
, and was also President of Worcestershire CCC from 1967 to 1969. He was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
of Worcestershire in 1968.
Family
Ashton's mother, Victoria Alexandrina Inglis, was the daughter of Sir John Eardley Wilmot Inglis, who commanded the British forces at the Siege of LucknowSiege of Lucknow
The Siege of Lucknow was the prolonged defense of the Residency within the city of Lucknow during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. After two successive relief attempts had reached the city, the defenders and civilians were evacuated from the Residency, which was abandoned.Lucknow was the capital of...
and Julia Selina Thesiger.
A number of his relatives played first-class cricket: his brothers Claude
Claude Ashton
Claude Thesiger Ashton was an English amateur footballer and cricketer. As an amateur, he played football for the Corinthians in several different positions including goalkeeper and centre forward, although his preferred position was wing-half. He made one appearance for the England national team...
and Hubert
Hubert Ashton
Sir Hubert Ashton KBE MC was an English cricketer and politician...
had substantial careers for Cambridge and 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...
, while another brother, Percy
Percy Ashton
Percy Ashton was an Indian-born English cricketer. He was a right-arm medium-fast bowler who played for Essex...
, had one game for Essex. Two uncles, Alfred Inglis
Alfred Inglis
Alfred Markham Inglis was an amateur cricketer who played for the M.C.C. and Kent in the 1870s. By profession, he was a banker.-Early life:...
and John Inglis reached first-class level briefly in the 1880s. Finally, Ashton's brother-in-law Ralph Huband played twice for Cambridge in 1923.