Ivor Gilliat

Ivor Algernon Walter Gilliat MBE (8 January 1903 – 22 July 1967) was an English first-class cricketer, amateur footballer and educator.

The son of The Reverend Walter Gilliat, he was born in April 1903 at Eton, Buckinghamshire.^[1] He was educated at Charterhouse School,^[2] before going up to Magdalen College, Oxford.^[3] While studying at Oxford, he played first-class cricket for Oxford University, making his debut against Hampshire at Oxford in 1922. He played first-class cricket for Oxford until 1925, making a total of thirteen appearances.^[4] Playing as a wicket-keeper, he scored a total of 435 runs in his thirteen matches, with an average of 25.58 and a high score of 70, which was one of three half centuries he made. In his capacity as wicket-keeper he took 27 catches and made eight stumpings.^[5]

In addition to playing cricket for Oxford University, Gilliat also played football as an inside-right for Oxford University A.F.C., for which he gained a blue to go alongside his cricket blue.^[2] He also played football for Slough Town between 1921–26 and for Oxford City.^[6][3] By profession, Gilliat became a schoolmaster after graduating from Oxford, becoming a master at Bradfield College and later Radley College.^[2] While at Charterhouse, he had been a member of the Charterhouse School Officers' Training Corps and in May 1927 he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Territorial Army.^[7] Gilliat served with the Royal Berkshire Regiment during the Second World War and was promoted to lieutenant in July 1940.^[8] He was made an MBE in the 1946 New Year Honours.^[9] Upon exceeding the age for recall in June 1953, he was removed from the Reserve of Officers' and was granted the honorary rank of major.^[10] Gilliat died at Oxford in July 1967. His nephew Richard Gilliat and brother-in-law John Leslie both played first-class cricket.