John Hemsley Cameron, the son of Dr J.J. Cameron of the 1906 West Indies team to England, died in Chichester, Sussex on February 13 aged 85. He was a middle-order right-hand bat and versatile bowler of high tossed leg-breaks and off-breaks who sprang to fame when, as a Taunton School pupil, he played for the Rest against Public Schools at Lord's in 1931 and recorded innings figures of 10 for 49 in 19.1 overs. He made his debut for Somerset the following season and played in 47 matches for them until 1947.

He also won his blue at Cambridge in 1935-37, was vice-captain of the 1939 West Indies team to England, when he played two Tests and took the wicket of Harold Gimblett with his second ball in Test cricket, and in 1946 he turned out for Jamaica. Unfortunately Cameron never quite fulfilled his early promise, losing his ability to spin from leg, and his career record saw him take 184 first-class wickets at 30.77 apiece. His best innings analysis was 7 for 73, for Cambridge against Oxford in the 1935 University match at Lord's, figures which set his side on the road to a comfortable victory.

A valuable batsman, though again inconsistent, Cameron scored 2,772 runs at an average of 18.73, and the highest of his four centuries was 113 for Somerset versus Sussex at Eastbourne in 1937, made five days after scoring a century against Kent.

Cameron, whose brother F.J. appeared for West Indies against India in 1948/49 and toured England with the 1954 Canadian team, encountered mixed fortunes off the cricket field and was once found destitute in London.

He recovered well, however, and after working at Millfield School he became an assistant master at Chigwell School.
Robert Brooke, The Cricketer