| William Worsley | |
|---|---|
| Born | 5 April 1890 Hovingham Hall, Yorkshire, England |
| Died | 4 December 1973 (aged 83) Hovingham Hall, Yorkshire |
| Spouse(s) | Joyce Morgan Brunner |
| Issue | Marcus Worsley George Worsley John Worsley Katharine, Duchess of Kent |
| Parents | William Worsley, 3rd Bt. Augusta Mary Chivers Bower |
Col. Sir William Arthington Worsley of Hovingham, 4th Baronet (5 April 1890 – 4 December 1973) was an English amateur first-class cricketer, who captained Yorkshire County Cricket Club in 1928 and 1929, his only seasons of first-class cricket.[1] He had been unable to accept the captaincy in 1924 due to business commitments.[2]
Born at Hovingham Hall, Yorkshire, England, Worsley followed Major Arthur Lupton as captain, but only accepted the position after the Yorkshire committee had initially offered Herbert Sutcliffe the captaincy. Sutcliffe refused the offer after controversy broke out over the decision.[3] The county lost only twice whilst Worsley was captain. He was awarded his county cap in 1928.[1]
He was the son of Sir William Henry Arthington Worsley of Hovingham, 3rd Baronet (born 12 January 1861) and wife Augusta Mary Chivers Bower (died 1913), paternal grandson of Sir Arthington Worsley of Hovingham, 2nd Baronet (21 December 1830 – 3 June 1861) and wife (m. 13 March 1860) Marianne Christina Isabella Hely-Hutchinson (5 May 1832 – 11 August 1893) and maternal grandson of Edward Chivers Bower and wife Amelia Mary Bennett-Martin, the daughter of William Bennett-Martin (1796 – 1847) and wife Augusta Maria Chaloner (died 1859).
A right-handed batsman, he scored 722 runs at 15.69, with a highest score of 60 against Hampshire, and took 32 catches in the field.[1] His great-uncle, George Cayley, played four games for the MCC and Cambridge University.
He was President of Yorkshire CCC from 1960, until his death in 1973; and was President of the MCC in 1962.
He served as a lieutenant and subsequently captain with the Green Howards (now part of the Yorkshire Regiment) in World War I. He was wounded and taken prisoner.[4]
He was Lord Lieutenant of the North Riding of Yorkshire from 1951 to 1965.
He married Joyce Morgan Brunner (died 1979), daughter of Sir John Fowler Brunner, 2nd Baronet, and wife Lucy Marianne Vaughan Morgan, on 20 May 1924 at St. Margaret's, Westminster.
Their only daughter Katharine married Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, thereby becoming Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent. They also had three sons: Marcus (5th Baronet, born 6 April 1925), George Oliver (born 22 February 1927), and John Arthington (born 15 July 1928).
In 1967, he was awarded an honorary LLD by the University of Leeds. The degree was conferred on him by his daughter in her role as Chancellor of the university.[5]
The 1974 edition of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack included this short obituary of Worsley:[6]
WORSLEY, COLONEL SIR WILLIAM ARTHINGTON, BART., who died on December 4, aged 83, was President of Yorkshire CCC since 1960. He was in the Eton XI in 1908 and 1909, being top scorer with 42 against Harrow in the first year and afterwards played much Army and club cricket. He became captain of Yorkshire in 1928 and 1929, and although he achieved little as a batsman – he scored 733 runs at an average of 16.28, the county were only twice beaten under his leadership. When he was President of MCC in 1962, he visited India when E R Dexter's MCC team were touring there. While serving with the Green Howards in the First World War, he was wounded and taken prisoner. His daughter, the Duchess of Kent, conferred an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws upon him at Leeds University in 1967.
| Honorary titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by The Marquess of Zetland |
Lord Lieutenant of the North Riding of Yorkshire 1951–1965 |
Succeeded by The Marquess of Normanby |
| Baronetage of the United Kingdom | ||
| Preceded by William Worsley |
Baronet (of Hovingham) 1936–1973 |
Succeeded by Marcus Worsley |