The Haileybury Society is saddened to learn of the death of Peter Ellis, Haileybury Rackets and Cricket Pro from 1964-1996, on Tuesday 14th June, 2022, aged 89.

A passion for cricket

Peter had a childhood love for cricket and showed promise as a fast bowler at Marylebone Grammar School. He joined the ground staff at Lord’s, where he had two spells in and around his National Service. He played one first class game for the MCC and also played for Middlesex II, subsequently going on to forge a good career as a professional at three Scottish clubs.

Haileybury impact

At Haileybury, Peter shone as a cricket, rackets and squash professional and made a profound impact on the young cricketers with his quest for high standards. Haileybury’s rackets honours testify to his patient and sound coaching.

Peter is remembered fondly for his dry wit and favourite sayings. He and his wife Lilian, a nursing sister in the San, were well loved within the Haileybury community. Peter ran the sports shop as well as stringing rackets and coaching at Hoddesdon Squash Club. He was an active and long-standing member of St Margaretsbury Cricket Club, where he continued to play and work for many years after retirement.

Our community remembers Peter

The Haileybury Society has received a vast number of letters and emails concerning Peter and his impact on them. You can read them all here.

David Rimmer remembers

David Rimmer (Th 76) – author of Haileybury Cricket 1863-1992 – has written a full obituary of Peter from which our brief resume above is derived. The full text of his obituary appears in the June 26th issue of Peacock on Sunday, the magazine of the St Margaretsbury Cricket Club, which can be read in the download below.

Peter Ellis Obituary by David Rimmer (Th 76)Download