Colin White dies aged 75

It is with great sadness we have to report that Colin White died today at the age of 75. He had been fighting leukaemia bravely for some months.

Generally regarded as the most stylist batsman to have come out of Cranleigh since the war, Colin was an archetypal left-hander, whose every stroke seemed to rely on timing rather than force and to who an ugly shot was an anathema. After four years in the 1st XI he went on to represent Cambridge and Surrey 2nd XI, but his chances of a Blue were wrecked when he was hit in the mouth and hospitalised by when playing against the New Zealand tourists.

In contrast to the safety needed in his career as a banker, as a batsman he looked to attack from the first ball, with the drive over extra cover his favourite stroke. He was also an quite outstanding cover fielder, his speed and agility being further strengthened by an ability to pick the ball up and throw with either hand. In later years he turned to wicketkeeping with some success, possibly frustrated by his under use as a capable bowler of Chinamen.

“Those three years, though disappointing that I did not get my blue, were a wonderful experience, bearing in mind that I never dreamed of playing for the university, let alone so many first-class games, some 22 in all,” he said in 2010. “And MCC selected me to play against Scotland, a two day non first-class match at Lords, I think that was in 1958. I also played for Surrey seconds for a few games.”

Colin had a long and successful career with Barclays Bank. After retirement he kept himself busy with a variety of interests foremost being his large family as well as gardening, golf and narrow boats.

For the OCCC, Colin was a regular for more than a decade after his time at Cambridge, captaining the side in 1965 and becoming president from 1984 to 1986. In 124 matches he scored 3633 runs at 33.33, including four hundreds, and took 13 wickets.