John Bell

John Thomson Bell, who has died at Guiseley, near Leeds at the age of 76, played for Yorkshire in 1921 and 1923, having few opportunities to distinguish himself, although in the match against Essex at Leyton, he and Norman Kilner put on 117 for the first wicket to set up a memorable victory. Like so many other Yorkshiremen, Bell was to find success with another county - Glamorgan, for whom he played as an opening batsman until and including 1931. He headed the county's batting in 1926 with 1471 runs at 38.71, with four centuries, the highest 225 against Worcestershire at Dudley, where he and Trevor Arnott added 177 in 70 minutes.

In 1927 he carried his bat for 209 through Wales's second innings against MCC, and in the following summer he (106) and J. T. Morgan set a then county record of 165 for the fourth wicket in Glamorgan's match against Notts at Cardiff. In 1929 he and L. A. Bates wrote another record-this time for the first wicket-with 167 against Lancashire at Swansea.
The Cricketer, October 1974

John Bell joined Glamorgan in the 1920`s after failing to secure a regular place in the Yorkshire side. The Batley-born batsman played just seven times for his native county between 1921 and 1923, before deciding to move to South Wales, where he subsequently enjoyed a very successful career for his adopted county.

He made his debut against the touring South Africans in 1924, and developed into a correct and workmanlike opening batsman. In 1926 he recorded a career best 225 against Worcestershire at Dudley, and more than justified his promotion with other centuries against Warwickshire, Northants and Somerset. He lost form in 1927, but in 1928 he aggregated 1551 runs, with centuries against Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire, as well as eight other half-centuries.

Bell also played for Wales between 1924 and 1930, and in 1927 made 209 against the M.C.C. He left the Glamorgan staff in 1931 as financial worries forced the club into releasing serveral of their professionals. He returned to league cricket in Yorkshire, and between 1946 and 1951 he stood as an umpire in first-class cricket.
Andrew Hignell