cricketer athletics competitor
He was a right-handed batsman and right-arm medium-pace bowler who played for Gloucestershire. Hignell made a single first-class appearance for the team, during the 1947 season, against Cambridge University. He scored 7 runs in the only innings in which he batted, and conceded 48 runs with the ball in 18 overs.
Hignell played for Gloucestershire Second XI in the Minor Counties Championship during the 1948 season.
He was the father of Alastair Hignell, who played cricket for Cambridge University and Gloucestershire and rugby union for England, Cambridge University and Bristol. Hignell died on 23 October 2015 at the age of 87.