Charles Williams

Charles Williams was a middle-order batsman who won three Blues while at Christ Church, Oxford, leading the university in his final year. After a handful of games in 1952 he made the No. 3 berth his own in 1953, and in 1954 found form with hundreds against Lancashire and Hampshire and played much of the summer for Essex, finishing the season with 1128 runs. He again passed 1000 in 1955 as captain of Oxford, starting with 120 and 68* against Gloucestershire. He ended the summer with his only Championship hundred against Leicestershire. He joined the King's Royal Rifle Corps in Winchester which limited his appearances in 1956, although he made his sixth and last hundred for Combined Universities against Warwickshire and ended the season being picked for Players against Gentlemen. He left the army and played in the summer holidays in 1958 and 1959.

From 1977 to 1979, he was chairman of the Prices Commission and from 1985 to 1992 director of Mirror Group Newspapers plc. He was made a labour life peer in 1985. He has written several historical books, including the acclaimed Bradman, which was shortlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year in 1996.
Martin Williamson