Geoffrey Lees

Background

He was born at Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Lancashire, and was educated at the King"s School, Rochester.

Education

Downing College.

Career

Lees was a right-handed batsman who bowled leg break. While studying at Downing College, Cambridge, Lees made his first-class debut for Cambridge University against Essex at Fenner"son Cambridge University responded in their first-innings by making 299 all out, during which Lees was dismissed for 12 runs by David Gray.

Cambridge University then made 275/5 declared in their second-innings, setting Cambridge University 201 for victory.

In their second-innings chase, Lees was dismissed for a duck by Peter Smith, with the university reaching 134/7, at which point the match was declared a draw. He made a second first-class appearance in that season for the university against Middlesex at Fenner"son

Middlesex then made 283/7 declared in their second-innings, which set the university a target of 350 for victory. However, in their second-innings chase they were dismissed for 291, with Lees being dismissed for a duck by Sims.

He later made a single first-class appearance for Sussex against Leicestershire in the 1951 County Championship at the County Ground, Hove.

Leicestershire then made 147 all out in their first-innings, with them being forced to follow-on in their second-innings, which saw them dismissed for 117. Outside of cricket he was a schoolmaster, teaching at Brighton College from 1948 to 1963 (where he was head of English and a day house housemaster) and later as the headmaster of Saint Bees School from 1964 to 1980. He died following a prolonged illness at Royal Sussex County Hospital Brighton, Sussex, on 17 August 2012.Sadly his former school of which he was headmaster until 1980 Street Bees School closed at the end of 2015.

Achievements

• Cambridge University won the toss and elected to field, with Essex then making 224 all out in their first-innings. Middlesex won the toss and elected to bat first, making 283 all out, to which Cambridge University responded in their first-innings by making 217 all out, during which Lees was dismissed by Jim Sims for 15 runs. Middlesex won the match by 58 runs. Sussex won the toss and elected to bat first, making 328 all out, with Lees being stumped for a single run off the bowling of Gerry Lester. Sussex won the match by an innings and 64 runs.