Leicestershire sad to learn of the passing of Stuart Symington

Date: Wednesday 16 December 2009

Leicestershire CCC are sad to learn of the passing of Stuart Symington, who at the time of his death, was the oldest surviving Leicestershire captain.

Stuart, who died in Herefordshire on December 11, was captain of Leicestershire in 1949, and was very much a larger than life character.

He first played for the county in 1944 in a wartime match as a 17 year old Canford schoolboy. On leaving school he joined the Army, being commissioned in the Kings Royal Rifle Corps in February 1946, and he saw service in the occupation of Trieste.

He made his first class debut for Leicestershire in 1948, and showed sufficient promise to be offered the captaincy of the club for the following season. In those days it was still considered essential that an amateur should fulfil this role.

Though he played several useful innings, with a top score of 65 against Essex being the best, his right arm medium paced bowling was not effective in that summer of dry wickets. He took only 30 wickets at a cost of over 40 runs each, with a best of 5 for 45 at Ashby.

As the season progressed, the form of the team deteriorated and he resumed his Army career. This saw him as ADC to the Governor of the Bahamas, and then Adjutant to the Kings Royal Rifles in Germany.

On retirement from the Army in 1958, he became a director of R&W Symington in Market Harborough, and his special responsibilities were foundation garments and swim wear.

In 1970, he unsuccessfully stood as Conservative candidate for North West Leicester.

At the time of his death, he was the oldest surviving Leicestershire captain. That distinction is now held by Raymond Illingworth.

Our thoughts are with Stuart's family and friends at this sad time.