Kenneth Arthur Shearwood (5 September 1921 – 5 July 2018) was an English cricketer who played
first-class cricket
First-class cricket, along with List A cricket and Twenty20 cricket, is one of the highest-standard forms of cricket. A first-class match is one of three or more days' scheduled duration between two sides of eleven players each and is officia ...
for
Oxford University
Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...
between 1949 and 1951 and for
Derbyshire
Derbyshire ( ) is a ceremonial county in the East Midlands, England. It includes much of the Peak District National Park, the southern end of the Pennine range of hills and part of the National Forest. It borders Greater Manchester to the no ...
in 1949.
Shearwood was born in
Derby
Derby ( ) is a city and unitary authority area in Derbyshire, England. It lies on the banks of the River Derwent in the south of Derbyshire, which is in the East Midlands Region. It was traditionally the county town of Derbyshire. Derby gain ...
and was educated at
Shrewsbury School
Shrewsbury School is a public school (English independent boarding school for pupils aged 13 –18) in Shrewsbury.
Founded in 1552 by Edward VI by Royal Charter, it was originally a boarding school for boys; girls have been admitted into th ...
before going to
Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College (BNC) is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. It began as Brasenose Hall in the 13th century, before being founded as a college in 1509. The library and chapel were added in the m ...
. He played
minor counties
The National Counties, known as the Minor Counties before 2020, are the cricketing counties of England and Wales that do not have first-class status. The game is administered by the National Counties Cricket Association (NCCA), which comes unde ...
cricket for
Cornwall
Cornwall (; kw, Kernow ) is a historic county and ceremonial county in South West England. It is recognised as one of the Celtic nations, and is the homeland of the Cornish people. Cornwall is bordered to the north and west by the Atlan ...
in 1947 and for Derbyshire second XI in 1948. He made five appearances as wicketkeeper for Oxford University between 1949 and 1951 when he made 5 catches and 4 stumpings. He played one match as wicketkeeper for Derbyshire in the
1949 season against
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire ( abbreviated Glos) is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn and the entire Forest of Dean.
The county town is the city of Gl ...
when he stumped one batsman. As a right-handed batsman he played 6 innings in 5 first-class matches at an average of 9 with a top score of 28.
Shearwood was also an amateur footballer and represented
Oxford University
Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...
. He played in the
Pegasus
Pegasus ( grc-gre, Πήγασος, Pḗgasos; la, Pegasus, Pegasos) is one of the best known creatures in Greek mythology. He is a winged divine stallion usually depicted as pure white in color. He was sired by Poseidon, in his role as hor ...
side which won the
FA Amateur Cup
The FA Amateur Cup was an England, English football (soccer), football competition for amateur clubs. It commenced in 1893 and ended in 1974 when the Football Association abolished official amateur status.
History
Following the legalisation of p ...
at
Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium (branded as Wembley Stadium connected by EE for sponsorship reasons) is a football stadium in Wembley, London. It opened in 2007 on the site of the Wembley Stadium (1923), original Wembley Stadium, which was demolished from 200 ...
in 1951 and 1953.
After retiring from the game, Shearwood spent the rest of his working life at Lancing College. He was appointed a schoolmaster in 1952, teaching English, History and Mathematics, as well as coaching both cricket and football. Additionally, he was housemaster of Sanderson’s House from 1958 to 1975, and went on to become the Head Master’s Deputy from 1982-1986. During this time, he spent a 10 year period as President of the Common Room. After his retirement from teaching in 1986, Shearwood then undertook the role of Registrar – the first to be appointed as such – until he fully retired in 1996. He was an honorary Fellow of Lancing College, and maintained close links with the school in the capacity of Patron of the 1848 Legacy Society (which exists to thank those who have made provision for the College in their Will).
Shearwood published four books: ''Whistle the Wind'' in 1959 (illustrated by Alex J Ingram); ''Evening Star:The Story of a Cornish Fishing Lugger'' in 1972; ''Pegasus'' in 1975, and the autobiography ''Hardly a Scholar'' in 1999 (first edition) and 2009 (second edition). He died in July 2018 at the age of 96.
Lancing College announcement – Ken Shearwood
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References
Further reading
*''Hardly a Scholar''. Ken Shearwood's vigorous and lively autobiography, with a Foreword by Ted Maidment. (Kennedy & Boyd, 2009
*''Pegasus: The Famous Oxford and Cambridge Soccer Side of the Nineteen Fifties''. Reprinted, With an Introduction by Geoffrey Green, and an Afterword by David Miller. (Kennedy & Boyd, 2011
*''Whistle The Wind: A Mevagissey Venture''. With illustrations by Alex J Ingram. Reprinted. (Kennedy & Boyd, 2009
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shearwood, Kenneth
1921 births
2018 deaths
Alumni of Brasenose College, Oxford
Cornwall cricketers
Derbyshire cricketers
English cricketers
Oxford University cricketers
People educated at Shrewsbury School
Cricketers from Derby