All at Middlesex Cricket are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of former player, Thomas William ‘Bill’ Higginson, aged 88.
Esher-born Bill, played for the Club between the years 1959 and 1962, primarily in the Second Eleven, making 36 Second Eleven Championship appearances for Middlesex in that time.
The right-handed middle order batter did make three First Eleven appearances for the Club, in the 1960 season, making his first-class debut against Surrey at the Oval, before also playing against Gloucestershire at Cheltenham College and Worcestershire at New Road, all in August that year.
He scored 30 runs in three innings, with two not out innings, finishing his first-class career with an average of 30, plus he picked up one wicket in the seven overs he bowled at Cheltenham College, taking the wicket of Gloucestershire’s John Mortimore, returning figures of 7-1-24-1.
Dedicated to the game, following his playing career Bill took up both umpiring and coaching, and officiated in 29 Minor Counties Championship matches up until 1978, and even tried his hand as a match-day ground announcer at Lord’s.
Bill spent time in East Africa, in Kenya, as MCC’s Coach, and even played for Kenya in 1968 and played domestically in Nairobi for the Rift Valley Sports Club.
Following his time in East Africa, Bill returned to Wales, to Powys, where he took on the role of Cricket Development Officer for mid-Wales, where he became heavily involved in disability cricket, eventually becoming Chair of the British Association for Cricketers with Disabilities (BACD).
In 2001, when Bill first became involved in Disability Cricket there were only three sides actively playing the game in the UK. Almost two decades later and after Bill’s commitment and passion to grow the Disability game, he left the BACD with a proud legacy and a disability game that is now thriving across the country at both county and development levels.
In recognition of his services to the game, in 2020, Bill was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.
The thoughts and prayers of all at Middlesex Cricket are with Bill’s family and friends at this saddest of times.
