Geoffrey Bell (cricketer)
Encyclopedia
Geoffrey Foxall Bell, MC
(16 April 1896 – 17 January 1984) was an English
cricket
er and educationalist. He was a right-handed batsman who played first-class cricket for Derbyshire
and Oxford University
. He won the Military Cross during World War I
and became headmaster of two schools.
Bell was born in Stapenhill
, Derbyshire and was related to the Evershed brewing family. He made his first County Championship appearance in 1914, though his cricketing career was summarily halted by the First World War, during which he served with the Royal Field Artillery
and won the Military Cross
.
After the war he went to study at Oxford University, and returned to the arena of first-class cricket playing for the University in 1919. He played his first of seven games, most of which were against assembled elevens such as the Gentlemen of England and HDG Leveson-Gower
's XI.
Bell made his return appearance for Derbyshire towards the back end of the 1919 season, their ninth place in the season's table something of a false hope for times to come. Bell made his final three appearances for Derbyshire during the 1920 season, finishing with a duck in his first appearance, though his form improved in the first innings of his next game and, although the final game of his season saw him achieve an innings of 11, before getting out, he found himself dropped from the team, never to make another first-class appearance.
After university, he became a schoolmaster and in 1927 became headmaster of Trent College
where he was held in high regard by the boys and was seen as a forward-thinking man. During his time, the Warner Library was opened in 1929 and the Cricket Pavilion in 1933. In 1936 he went on to become headmaster of Highgate School
where he was seen as an austere but respected figurehead.
In 1954 he decided to leave teaching and Highgate while he was still enjoying it, so he took an early pension and bought six acres in Hampshire where he planted an orchard and built a house and a simple fruit store on it. He made a living and employed several workers. He died in Haslemere
.
Bell's cousins, Edward
, Sydney
, Wallis
and Frank Evershed
, were all first-class cricketers for Derbyshire during the back end of the nineteenth century, while William Evershed
also played first-class cricket in first half of the 19th century.
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....
(16 April 1896 – 17 January 1984) 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 and educationalist. He was a right-handed batsman who played first-class cricket for Derbyshire
Derbyshire County Cricket Club
Derbyshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the England and Wales domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Derbyshire...
and 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...
. He won the Military Cross during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and became headmaster of two schools.
Bell was born in Stapenhill
Stapenhill
Stapenhill is an area and civil parish in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire in the UK. Stapenhill was a small village owned by Nigel of Stafford in 1086.The village of Stapenhill has long since been surrounded by new housing developments....
, Derbyshire and was related to the Evershed brewing family. He made his first County Championship appearance in 1914, though his cricketing career was summarily halted by the First World War, during which he served with 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....
and won the Military Cross
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....
.
After the war he went to study at Oxford University, and returned to the arena of first-class cricket playing for the University in 1919. He played his first of seven games, most of which were against assembled elevens such as the Gentlemen of England and HDG Leveson-Gower
HDG Leveson-Gower
Sir Henry Dudley Gresham Leveson Gower was an English cricketer who played for Oxford University and Surrey as well as England. He was the seventh son of Granville William Gresham Leveson-Gower JP DL FSA, by his wife The Hon Sophia Leveson Gower LJStJ .He captained England in all three of the Test...
's XI.
Bell made his return appearance for Derbyshire towards the back end of the 1919 season, their ninth place in the season's table something of a false hope for times to come. Bell made his final three appearances for Derbyshire during the 1920 season, finishing with a duck in his first appearance, though his form improved in the first innings of his next game and, although the final game of his season saw him achieve an innings of 11, before getting out, he found himself dropped from the team, never to make another first-class appearance.
After university, he became a schoolmaster and in 1927 became headmaster of Trent College
Trent College
Trent College is a co-educational, HMC independent day and boarding school. There are 760 pupils in the Senior School and 330 pupils in the Junior School, The Elms School...
where he was held in high regard by the boys and was seen as a forward-thinking man. During his time, the Warner Library was opened in 1929 and the Cricket Pavilion in 1933. In 1936 he went on to become headmaster of Highgate School
Highgate School
-Notable members of staff and governing body:* John Ireton, brother of Henry Ireton, Cromwellian General* 1st Earl of Mansfield, Lord Chief Justice, owner of Kenwood, noted for judgment finding contracts for slavery unenforceable in English law* T. S...
where he was seen as an austere but respected figurehead.
In 1954 he decided to leave teaching and Highgate while he was still enjoying it, so he took an early pension and bought six acres in Hampshire where he planted an orchard and built a house and a simple fruit store on it. He made a living and employed several workers. He died in Haslemere
Haslemere
Haslemere is a town in Surrey, England, close to the border with both Hampshire and West Sussex. The major road between London and Portsmouth, the A3, lies to the west, and a branch of the River Wey to the south. Haslemere is approximately south-west of Guildford.Haslemere is surrounded by hills,...
.
Bell's cousins, Edward
Edward Evershed
Edward Evershed was an English cricketer who played for Derbyshire between 1888 and 1898.Evershed was born in Stapenhill, now part of Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire , the son of Sydney Evershed the brewer and MP for Burton...
, Sydney
Sydney Evershed
Sir Sydney Herbert Evershed was an English brewer and cricketer who played first-class cricket for Derbyshire from 1880 to 1901 and was a long-serving club captain from 1891 to 1898....
, Wallis
Wallis Evershed
Wallis Evershed was an English cricketer who played for Derbyshire between 1882 and 1884.Evershed was born in Stapenhill, the son of Sydney Evershed the brewer and MP for Burton. He was educated at Clifton College where he was awarded his cap and was captain of the XI in 1882...
and Frank Evershed
Frank Evershed
Frank Evershed was an English rugby player who played internationally for England between 1889 and 1893 and a cricketer who played for Derbyshire....
, were all first-class cricketers for Derbyshire during the back end of the nineteenth century, while William Evershed
William Evershed
William Evershed was an English cricketer.Evershed made his first-class debut for pre-county club Hampshire against Petworth in 1845...
also played first-class cricket in first half of the 19th century.
External links
- Geoffrey Bell at Cricket Archive