Foxes Flashback - Fred Gibson

Alfred Leonard "Fred" Gibson (13th February 1912) - Leicestershire’s first (and only) Centenarian

Fred learned about cricket in his home village of Devon in central Jamaica, and remembered keeping wicket with George Headley batting. He came to England in April 1944, and his batting exploits whilst serving with the RAF in the Melton Mowbray area caught the attention of Leicestershire’s CJB Wood. He selected him in the One Day county matches of 1945 and an unbeaten 60 against Notts impressed the local press, and was sufficient enough to gain him a contract for the 1946 season.

He played just twice for Leicestershire, against Yorkshire and Oxford University, before a car accident where he suffered a broken arm and received head injuries finished his season and his professional career. Now married, he needed a regular job, and he spent the next 30 years working at Rolls Royce in Mountsorrel.

His big hitting continued firstly for Mountsorrel, and then for Loughborough Town, then, as now one of the leading Clubs in the East Midlands, where he scored over 1,000 runs in a season. He also helped found Loughborough Carillon Old Boys, and was their President for 18 years. He would drive his Rolls Royce to matches and encourage the batsmen to have a proper back lift if they wanted to hit the ball.

He was active in local politics, serving as a Labour Councillor on Barrow on Soar RDC, and was Chairman of Mountsorrel Parish Council. He was also a fine musician, playing the piano ‘by ear’ which he did with style on his 100th birthday.

Fred died in Rutland on 28th June 2013 at the age of 101. At the time of his death he was the second oldest surviving First-Class cricketer who had played in England.