Hugh Priestley

Hugh William Priestley MC (19 September 1887 – 6 January 1932) was an English stockbroker and cricketer. Priestley was a right-handed batsman who bowled right-arm medium pace. He was born in Marylebone, London and later educated at Uppingham School, where he played for the school cricket team.^[1]

Priestley made a single Minor Counties Championship appearance for Buckinghamshire in 1907 against the Worcestershire Second XI.^[2] He later made his only first-class appearance for the Marylebone Cricket Club against Cambridge University in 1911.^[3] In the MCC first-innings he was dismissed for 31 by Henry Grierson. In their second-innings, he scored 2 runs before being dismissed by the same bowler. Hardy took a single wicket in the Cambridge University first-innings, that of university captain John Frederick Ireland for the cost of 16 runs from a single over.^[4]

Priestly was a stockbroker joining first the firm of Hichens Harrison and Company around 1909 and later moving to Laing and Cruickshank.^[5] In 1914 he joined the Post Office Rifles (the 8th Battalion London Regiment) and served in France from 27 January 1917.^[5] He was awarded the Military Cross in July 1918 and was severely wounded in August 1918.^[5] He became a partner in the Laing and Cruikshank before moving in 1923 to Mullens, Marshall, Steer, Lawford & Company where he became one of the official brokers to the Commissioners of the National Debt.^[5] As well as cricket he was an expert in dry fly fishing and shooting.^[5] He had married Elizabeth Grainger Hall in 1911 and they had three sons, the eldest Robert also played first-class cricket.

He died in Marylebone, London on 6 January 1932.