Jim Stallibrass Obituary by Conrad Sutcliffe

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Player:

JH Stallibrass

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DateLine: 13th June 2020

 

ONE of Devon's oldest former cricketers has died in Surrey aged 90. Jim Stallibrass moved to Devon shortly after World War Two due to his job with the Shell oil company.

 

A batsman who had played for Sussex 2nd XI in 1946 as a 19-year-old prospect, Stallibrass joined Sidmouth and was soon spotted by the Devon hierarchy.

 

For four seasons between 1948-1951, Stallibrass played 28 times for Devon in Championship cricket, scoring 619 runs with a best of 95, which was scored against Gloucestershire 2nd XI at Plymouth in 1950. Another highlight was knocks of 40 and 67 against the Surrey 1st XI at Torquay when Devon were bidding to obtain First Class status, unsuccessfully as it transpired.

 

Stallibrass’ ability as an all-round sportsman was enviable. In addition to playing cricket he also turned out for football team Corinthian Casuals and played county table-tennis for Surrey and Devon. He was a lawn-tennis player for the latter too.

 

When Stallibrass moved to Surrey with Shell he joined Guildford and was appointed captain in 1954. He stayed in the post for 10 years. Stallibrass carried on playing cricket for the Free Foresters, Sussex Martlets, Grasshoppers, MCC and the Forty Club into his late 60s. The final game on his CV for the Martlets was in a draw game with the Forty Club in the historic setting of Arundel Castle in 1988. He had just turned 68.

 

Michael Stallibrass, Jim’s son, inherited his father’s passion for cricket and played 24 First Class games for Oxford University and a combined Oxford and Cambridge side between 1972-74.

 

Jim Stallibrass died in a Guildford nursing home.