Background
He was born in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire.
He was born in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire.
Lawton was a right-handed batsman who bowled right-arm medium pace. Having played for the Lancashire Second XI since 1946, he made his first-class debut for the senior Lancashire team in 1948 against the touring Australians. Lawton did not take a wicket in this match, and was dismissed for a duck by Bill Johnston in Lancashire"s first-innings.
His second and final first-class match came in the same season against Oxford University.
In Lancashire"s first-innings, Lawton scored three runs before being dismissed by Basil Robinson. His only first-class wicket came in Oxford"s first-innings when he took the wicket of Philip Whitcombe.
He later played for Cumberland, making his debut for the county in its first Minor Counties Championship match in 1955 against the Yorkshire Second XI. He played eight Minor Counties Championship matches for Cumberland. Lawton was married to the actress Dora Bryan, whom he met in Oldham during World World War World War II Lawton died in Brighton on 14 August 2008 following a battle with Alzheimer"s disease.