2 Jun 2015 | Cricket
Lord Hugh Griffiths, who played for Glamorgan in their Championship-winning summer of 1948, before subsequently becoming a Law Lord, died on May 30th at the age of 91.
The Right Honourable Lord Justice Griffiths had a brief career as a fast bowler with Glamorgan after the Second World War, before enjoying a most distinguished legal career, which saw him become a Life Peer and a Law Lord.
Despite his duties in the legal world he retained his passion for cricket, and in 1991/92, he served as President of the M.C.C., thereby becoming the first Glamorgan player to achieve this honour with the most famous cricket club in the world.
Educated at Charterhouse, he was in the school's XI in 1940 and 1941, before serving in the Second World War with the Welsh Guards, In 1944 he was awarded the Military Cross for bravely disabling a series of German tanks during the Guards Armoured Division's advance from Brussels.
After the War ended, Hugh went up to St.John's , Cambridge to commence his legal studies. He also won Blues in for cricket and golf, and between 1946 and 1948, he opened the bowling for Cambridge, recording career-best figures of 6/129 against Lancashire at Fenner's in 1946, besides scoring 19 in the 1948 Varsity match at Lord's. Whilst in residence at Cambridge, Hugh - as the son of a Welsh surgeon - played for Glamorgan during his summer vacations, and he appeared in four Championship matches during 1948 as Wilf Wooller's team lifted the county title for the first-ever time.
Lord Griffiths subsequently pursued a highly successful legal career, culminating in his elevation to a High Court Judge. He gave judgement in the famous Spycatcher case during the 1980's as well as becoming a Law Lord in May 1985, He also was appointed captain of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, and thereby became the first man to preside over both Lord's and St. Andrews.
On hearing of Lord Griffiths' death, Hugh Morris, the Chief Executive and Director of Cricket at Glamorgan Cricket said, As an opening bowler in 1948, Lord Griffiths played a role in one of the most important and famous years of our Club. Had he not pursued such a glittering legal career, there is no doubt that he could have enjoyed a highly successful career as a county cricketer with Glamorgan.
I had the great pleasure of meeting Lord Griffiths during his Presidency of the MCC and at other times at Lord's, including during our Centenary Year in 1988 when he spoke at our special dinner held in the Long Room at Lord's. Glamorgan County Cricket Club has lost a great friend and supporter, and we extend our sympathies to his family and many friends.