| George Mann CBE DSO MC | |
|---|---|
| Born |
6 September 1917 Byfleet, Surrey, England |
| Died |
8 August 2001 (aged 83) Stockcross, Berkshire, England |
Francis George Mann, CBE DSO MC (6 September 1917 – 8 August 2001) was an English cricketer, who played for Cambridge University, Middlesex and England.[1] He was born at Byfleet, Surrey and died at Stockcross, Berkshire.
As a cricketer, George Mann was a right-handed middle-order batsman. His father, Frank Mann, also captained England, making them the first father and son to both captain England.[2] Colin and Chris Cowdrey are the only other father and son to have done this for England.[citation needed]
Early life and education[]
Mann was born on 6 September 1917 in Byfleet, Surrey, England.[3][4] The son of Frank Mann, he was the brother of John Pelham Mann. He was educated at Eton College, an all-boys public school, and captained the school's cricket XI in 1936.[5] He was also a member of the Eton College Contingent of the Officer Training Corps, and reached the rank of cadet under-officer.[6] He studied at Pembroke College, Cambridge, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree.[3] While at Cambridge, he earned two cricketing blues, having represented the university in 1938 and 1939.[5]
Military service[]
Mann served in the British Army during the Second World War, having joined up before the outbreak of war.[5] On 8 July 1939, he was commissioned in the Royal Welch Fusiliers as a second lieutenant.[6] He transferred to the Scots Guards on 13 March 1940.[7] He was awarded the Military Cross (MA) in 1942.[4] On 28 June 1945, the then temporary major Mann was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Italy".[8]
Mann maintained his links with the army after the war. On 8 July 1949, he was moved from the Supplementary Reserve of Officers to the Regular Army Reserve of Officers, and was granted the honorary rank of major.[9] Having reached the age limit, he resigned his commission on 6 September 1967 and was permitted to retain his honorary rank.[10]
Cricketing career[]
Mann captained England in each of his seven Test matches, winning two, and drawing the other five; his father had also been captain in every Test he played in. Wisden said of Mann: "as a captain he was ideal, zealous to a degree, and considerate in all things at all times".[citation needed] After leading England in South Africa in 1948/49, Mann led his side for two Tests in the following summer, before he stood down, citing inability to participate regularly due to his family's brewing business commitments (Mann, Crossman & Paulin).[11] Mann was chairman of the Test and County Cricket Board (TCCB) from 1978 to 1983.[4] He was therefore chairman during the controversy over the rebel tour which Geoff Boycott and Graham Gooch led to South Africa in 1982.
Later life[]
Mann was a main board director and retained his position on the new company board when his family brewery merged with Watney Combe & Reid in 1958.[11] He was non-executive Deputy Chairman of the Extel Group from 1980 to 1986. Mann died on 8 August 2001 in Stockcross, Berkshire, England.[4]
Personal life[]
In 1949, Mann married Margaret Hildegarde Marshall Clark. Together they had four children: three sons and one daughter. His wife predeceased him, dying in 1995.[3]
Mann's son, Simon, was sentenced for thirty-four years in Equatorial Guinea in 2008, on charges related to an attempted coup in 2004, but was pardoned on 2 November 2009.
References[]
- ↑ "George Mann". www.cricketarchive.com. https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/0/841/841.html. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
- ↑ Bateman, Colin (1993). If The Cap Fits. Tony Williams Publications. p. 116. ISBN 1-869833-21-X.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 'MANN, (Francis) George', Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2016; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2014; online edn, April 2014 accessed 24 Nov 2017
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Hodgson, Derek (16 August 2001). "George Mann". The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/george-mann-9253190.html. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "George Mann". The Daily Telegraph. 13 August 2001. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1337304/George-Mann.html. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 {{London Gazette |issue= 34643 |date= 7 July 1939 |startpage= 4667|}
- ↑ "No. 34809". 8 March 1940. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34809/supplement/
- ↑ "No. 37151". 26 June 1945. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37151/supplement/
- ↑ "No. 38659". 8 July 1949. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/38659/supplement/
- ↑ "No. 44401". 1 September 1967. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/44401/supplement/
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Janes, Hurford (1963). The Red Barrel: A History of Watney Mann. John Murray. p. 175.
External links[]
The original article can be found at George Mann (cricketer) and the edit history here.
[[Category:Chairmen of Middlesex County Cricket Club Category:Presidents of Middlesex County Cricket Club Category:Presidents of the Marylebone Cricket Club]]