His long and loyal service to Hampshire was matched by the enormous contribution he
made to cricket at national level, as first chairman of the newly formed Test and
County Cricket Board in 1968, then being nominated by Prince Philip to succeed him
in 1975 as president of MCC and chairman of the International Cricket Conference.
His period as head of the TCCB encompassed the admission of overseas players into the
county game, the growth of sponsorship and the expansion of one-day cricket, and
also saw controversy over the d'Oliveira Affair.
Jack Bailey, former Secretary of the MCC, said: "Quiet tact and diplomacy were the
hallmarks of a man who never sought personal glory, merely the knowledge of a job
well done. He handled skilfully the need to balance change with cricket's essential
regard for tradition.
"If anyone deserved a knighthood, it was Cecil Paris. Not so much as an MBE came his
way. Yet service was, for him, its own reward - and cricket never had a better servant."
His innate modesty was typified by his award of the Czech equivalent of the MC for his
war duties as Liaison Officer between Montgomery's 21st Army Group and the
Czechoslovakian Armoured Brigade under General Liske in Eastern Europe. It was an
honour known only to a select few.
Outside of cricket, he was a third generation member and ultimately senior partner in
the old-established Southampton legal firm of Paris Smith and Randall. He became a
partner in 1938, the same year as he took on the Hampshire captaincy. Despite the
examples set by his grandfather, Alexander, and his uncle Leonard, he professed no
great aspirations to enter the legal profession. He confessed a year before his death
that he "wouldn't have minded being a farmer".
While serving his articles it was not unknown for games of cricket to be played with
a walking stick and a paper ball in the articled clerks' room, and he was once given
an ultimatum: "Career or cricket, one or the other but not both." In the event, he
not only managed to combine both, but succeeded in being widely respected in both
spheres of activity.
Cecil Gerard Alexander Paris was born on August 20, 1911, at Kirkee, India, where his
father, Alexander Lloyd Paris, a career soldier who attained the rank of Lieutenant
Colonel, was based with the Royal Engineers.
He was captain of the XI at King's School, Canterbury, in 1929 and 1930. In 1928 he
was second in both the batting and bowling averages, scoring 290 runs at 29 and,
notably, taking 31 wickets at 18.12, and his bowling was again to the fore in 1929
when he took 28 wickets at 21.32, while scoring 241 runs at 20.09. In 1930 he enjoyed
an outstanding season with the bat, scoring 501 runs at 38.53, and adding 21 wickets
at 17.95. Wisden said of him in 1930 that he "seldom failed to give the side a good
start". A genuine all-round sportsman, he was also to represent Hampshire at rugby
and squash.
He played his first match for Hampshire in 1933, against Worcestershire at Bournemouth
in August. His maiden century and top score of 134* came on the same ground in 1935,
against Northants, out of a total of 458 for 3 dec. Wisden records: "Hitting all
round the wicket with marked skill and accuracy of timing, he obtained a 6 and sixteen
4s and did not offer a chance." He shared a second wicket partnership of 145 with
McCorkell (132). Unusually, Mead featured in the innings victory only under "did not bat".
In the last match of that 1935 season, when Hampshire were defeated by Yorkshire by
an innings at Portsmouth, Paris (26) and Mead (29*) formed the only substantial
partnership in a first innings total of 99, and then Paris stood alone in the follow-on
with 51 out of 94.
Cecil Paris was appointed vice-captain in 1936, but for once the county's appointed
captain, Dick Moore, played in every match. They celebrated their appointments by
sharing a second wicket partnership of 183 in the first match of the season against
Derbyshire at Southampton, Moore hitting exactly 100 and Paris 101.
In 1937, Paris played only 14 games, totalling 496 with a top score of 75. Moore,
whose 316 against Warwickshire at Bournemouth that year is the county's highest, proved
an enterprising captain, but Wisden complained that "at times his play bore the stamp
of recklessness", and Hampshire ended in 14th place in the Championship.
Moore stepped down from the captaincy for 1938 - although he was to top the batting
averages in his rare appearances - and Cecil Paris took charge, achieving his highest
aggregate of 1,040 runs in Championship matches and showing great consistency as his
top score was only 77. The official county history records: "Paris captained the side
with immense concentration and effort." Despite his efforts, an inconsistent side
found itself in the familiar 14th position.
In 1939 another local solicitor, GR Taylor, took over the captaincy from Cecil Paris,
who played in only the first two matches of the season.
After his distinguished war service, Cecil Paris turned out in just two more games
for Hampshire early in the 1948 season.
Thereafter it was off the field that his most lasting contributions were made to the
game of cricket both at home and overseas.
Cecil Paris finally retired from Paris Smith & Randall in 1982. Two years later, aged
73, he was elected President of Hampshire CCC. It was at this time that, with Sir
Donald Acheson, he worked to raise £4million to provide the Wessex region with a body
scanner. After seven years as Hampshire President, Cecil Paris became Joint Patron
with Lord Denning.
In a letter to Cecil Paris in 1985, the former Master of the Rolls had recalled: "When
I was starting at the Bar, I was often briefed by your firm Paris Smith & Randall. I
cannot say they actually gave me my first brief, only that it was one of the first."
The Cecil Paris Memorial Fund has been established under the auspices of the Hampshire
County Cricket Youth Trust. In line with his family's wishes, the interest received
annually will be used to help fund the club's community and ethnic coaching programme.
Members who wish to make a contribution in memory of Cecil Paris are asked to contact
the Chief Executive at the County Ground.
For Hampshire (1933-48): Batting: M 98, I 169, NO 9, R 3660, HS 134*, AV 22.87, 100x2,
50x18, CT 74; Bowling: R 216, W 4, AV 54.00, BEST 1-10. Career: Batting: M 100, I 172,
NO 9, R 3730, HS 134*, AV 22.80, 100x2; Bowling: R 216, W 4, AV 54.00, best 1-10.