William Lithgow (cricketer)

William Samuel Plenderleath Lithgow (18 February 1920 – 8 August 1997) was an English first-class cricketer. Lithgow played first-class cricket before the Second World War for Oxford University. After the war he embarked on a career as a professional soldier, serving in both the Royal Artillery and the 10th Royal Hussars until 1968. He later served as a bodyguard to Elizabeth II in the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms from 1970 to 1990.

The son of Captain Douglas Plenderleath Lithgow and his wife, Dorothy Kathleen Hughes-Onslow, he was born at Westminster in February 1920.^[1] He was educated at Harrow School, before going up to Christ Church, Oxford.^[2] While studying at Oxford, he made three appearances in first-class cricket for Oxford University in 1939, playing against the Free Foresters, the Minor Counties cricket team and Surrey.^[3] He scored 69 runs in these matches, with a high score of 27.^[4] In addition to playing first-class cricket, Lithgow also appeared in minor counties cricket for Oxfordshire, making eight appearances in Minor Counties Championship between 1937 and 1939.^[5]

He was a second lieutenant in the Oxford University contingent of the Officers' Training Corps.^[6] Having served in the Second World War, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in July 1974,^[7] with promotion to captain coming in August of the same year, at which point he was serving with the Royal Artillery.^[8] He married in May 1947, with the couple having three children.^[1] He concluded his minor counties career with Oxfordshire in 1948 and 1949, making three final appearances in the Minor Counties Championship.^[5] He was promoted to the rank of major in February 1954.^[9] Having been transferred to the 10th Royal Hussars at some point prior to 1961, he was placed on the Reserve of Officers list in 1961,^[10] before returning to the establishment in April 1965.^[11] He had been promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in April 1962.^[12]

Having retired from active service in February 1968,^[13] Lithgow was appointed by Elizabeth II to the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms in May 1970.^[14] He retired from his bodyguard duties with the Honourable Corps in February 1990.^[15] He served as the chairman of selectors of the British Olympic equestrian team.^[16] He died in August 1997 at South Newington, Oxfordshire.^[16]

• William Lithgow at ESPNcricinfo