Chick Cray made his debut for Essex in 1938, a week after his 17th birthday, and the following summer he held down a regular place despite not making a fifty in 15 matches. Then came the war which deprived him of six seasons, although he did play some first-class cricket in India while in the forces. In 1947 he returned and enjoyed in best summer, scoring 1339 runs including three hundreds, and in 1950 hit a career-best 163 against Nottinghamshire. However, he was released at the end of the season with nothing than an abrupt telephone call while he was coaching in South Africa. After leaving Essex he was the professional at Paignton in Devon for a number of years, also representing the county in the Minor Counties Championship. He died in Torquay aged 87.
