Respected writer and broadcaster EW Swanton dies

EW Swanton has died, aged 92, following a short illness.

EW "Jim" Swanton was a much respected writer and broadcaster whose influence spread well beyond the narrow confines of journalism. His journalism career started in 1927 with the Evening Standard, but he is best known for his tenure as the Daily Telegraph cricket correspondent from 1946, being still active until shortly before his death. He also wrote extensively and knowledgeably on rugby and golf for the Daily Telegraph.

He was a respectable cricketer himself, his interest being furthered initially when his father enrolled him as a junior member of Surrey in 1921. In the 1930s he was described in the Cricketer as "one of the best opening batsmen in club matches", and became a playing member of the MCC,. He had a brief run for Middlesex seconds, playing with Compton, and a couple of first-class matches against the Universities.

He volunteered for the Army in the Second World War, and was captured by the Japanese forces invading Malaya. He spent three and a half years as a prisoner of war in difficult circumstances losing over 5 stone in weight by the time he returned.

He became involved in radio broadcasting in the 1930s, and took part on the first experiments of BBC broadcasts of overseas tours, covering parts of the 10 day England - South Africa Test of 1939. He later made the transition from radio to television, where he developed his extraordinary ability to extemporize beautifully timed and lucid summaries at close of play.

He organized and managed a number of tours, EW Swanton's XI playing matches in the West Indies in 1956 and 1961, and EW Swanton's Commonwealth XI (including Sobers, Benaud, the Nawab of Pataudi, Rahmadin, and SM Nourse) playing across the far East in 1964. He was also treasurer for the Duke of Norfolk's XI that toured the West Indies in 1970.

He covered seven England tours to Australia and a similar number to the Carribean, four to South Africa, and 40 English seasons, seeing perhaps more cricket than any other person at the time of his death. He was particularly fond of the West Indies, maintaining a second home in Barbados for a number of years.

Perceived as something of an establishment figure, because of his public school background, his opinions were anything but predictable, being at times a strong opponent of racism, and advocating inter-racial cricket on South Africa in the early 60s. He took great delight in quoting a letter received in 1956 stating that the Telegraph cricket correspondent should be "quietly disposed of, stuffed, and placed in the Long Room with the curved bats, the sparrow and the other freaks of the noble game". Forty years later, Swanton was still regularly contributing his carefully thought out, elegantly written opinions.

He was held in the highest esteem throughout the cricketing world. He authored 23 books during his career - notably collaborating with HS Altham on the standard "History of Cricket". He was also the Honorary Curator at Kent County Cricket Club.

The news was announced by his family on Saturday evening, who said he died at the Chaucer Hospital in Canterbury (just a short distance from the St. Lawrence Cricket Ground).

A number of famous cricketing names have been talking to the BBC about their memories of him. Lord Cowdrey said "Cricket loses an enormous friend in Jim who gave his whole life to the game.

Another former Daily Telegraph correspondent, Christopher Martin-Jenkins, talked of Swanton's "amazing depth of knowledge.... his greatest quality was his interest in other people, especially young people who shared his love of cricket..."

Former Kent and England batsman Brian Luckhurst said EW Swanton was "Kent cricket through and through".

Funeral Arrangements: EW Swanton's funeral will take place at St. Clement's Church, Sandwich, Kent on Tuesday 1st February at 11.30 GMT. Kent County Cricket Club have said they plan to arrange a Memorial Service.