Ken Graveney, R.I.P.

26 October 2015

John Kenneth Richard Graveney
16 December 1924 to 25 October 2015

It is with great sadness that Gloucestershire County Cricket Club announces the death of former player, Captain, Chairman and President, Ken Graveney, who passed away at his home in Tyler, Texas on Sunday 25 October.

Ken played for and captained Gloucestershire during his professional career.  He was a lower order left-handed batsman and a right-arm fast-medium bowler of out swingers.  He played in a few matches for Gloucestershire in both 1947 and 1948, and then regularly in 1949, when he took 59 wickets, including all ten wickets in an innings, for 66 runs, against Derbyshire at Chesterfield, the second-best innings analysis in the County’s history.

He played less in 1950 and 1951, however, because of fitness problems with a slipped disc, and back trouble forced him to retire from First Class cricket after the 1951 season.

In 1962, he reappeared in a few second eleven matches and, on the resignation as County Captain of Tom Pugh at the end of that season Graveney was appointed to lead the County side in 1963 and 1964.

With a talented side of bowling all-rounders, including the England players David Smith, John Mortimore and David Allen, Graveney bowled very little and at a very gentle medium pace he batted low down the order.  He retired in 1964.

In retirement, Graveney was active in committee work at Gloucestershire, serving as Chairman of the General Committee.  His brother Tom and his son David both had long cricket careers with Gloucestershire, and both captained the County.

Everyone at the Club extends their sincere condolences to the Graveney Family.

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