Brief profile of John Madden-Gaskell by Dr.A.K.Hignell

Player:

John Madden-Gaskell was a debonair amateur who played briefly for Glamorgan and Somerset whilst pursuing what proved to be a highly successful career in the Army.

He was a promising sportsman at Haileybury, representing the school at rugby and cricket. In the early 1920`s he enjoyed success playing in club cricket for Penarth, and in 1922 he was included in Glamorgan`s team that travelled to Headingley to play Yorkshire.

It was his only appearance for his native county, but in 1928 he returned to the first-class game when he was chosen by Somerset and he continued to appear occasionally for the West Country side for the next couple of years.

Despite appearing sporadically he showed great skill as a right-handed batsman, and no little bravery either, as in the match with Nottinghamshire at Taunton in 1928 when he scored 42 and 63 and repeatedly drove the fast bowling of Larwood and the other visiting pace bowlers. It was an innings that showed he would have held a regular place in a county side had he not opted for a career in the Services.

Madden-Gaskell was awarded the M.B.E. in 1945 and the O.B.E. in 1955.

(December 2003)