Hertfordshire Cricket

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It is with much sadness that we report that Henry Tilly died peacefully last Friday in a Nursing Home in Derbyshire. He had been a member of the County Cricket Club / County Association for 45 years between 1964 and 2008

Henry first played for Cheshunt CC at the age of 14 and developed into one of the finest bowlers the club had produced. After three years in the RAF, he spent eight years (1954 to 1961) on the Middlesex staff where he took 134 first class wickets. He played for Hertfordshire for 10 years from 1963 to 1972 taking 212 wickets. Bob Simons who kept wicket in the early years of this period wrote in his book, Cricket in Hertfordshire, “A master of all the mysteries of seam and swing, he was a pleasure to keep to. So many times his leg-cutter failed to find the edge of the bat, so many times the slip chances went down; his tally of 212 wickets for the County could well have been doubled.”

In 1968 he took 42 wickets for the County and two years later 38 wickets including 8 for 57 against Norfolk (match figures of 12 for 97). Henry was generous with his support and advice and I personally recollect advice he gave me in my first season with the County which was also his last.

He ran a sports shop in Cheshunt until he sold it in 1996 but the company continues to trade under the name Henry Tilly Ltd.

There will be a private family funeral and a Memorial Service in Spring 2024. Further details will be available in due course.

J D W Wright
President
Hertfordshire County Cricket Association

Hertfordshire CCC - 1968