Like Joe Hardstaff, Granville Payton (born 27 December 1913 in Beeston) was the son of a famous Notts batsman of the Edwardian era – his father WRD (Wilf) Payton appeared for the county from 1905 to 1931 - but Granville appeared only once for Notts, in May 1935. The opposition was Cambridge University at Fenner’s and he scored 10 and 19. A sound defensive right-hand batsman and good fielder he was educated at Nottingham High School, being in the XI from 1930 to 1933 and was captain in his last two seasons. His local club cricket was Forest Amateurs.
He went up to Emmanuel College, Cambridge in the autumn of 1933. In 1937 he made his First-Class debut for the University v Sussex, opening the batting. He held his place for the rest of the matches and was awarded his Blue. “He showed a dogged determination to hold his fort and a keeness in the field which undoubtedly had much to do with his selection.”
He decided on a career in the RAF and became a Squadron Leader, his cricket was mainly for the Combined Services, in the days when they fielded a First-Class side. His highest First-Class score was 98 versus Glamorgan at Pontypridd in 1948. In April 1949, Derbyshire applied for him to be specially registered and he played two championship matches for them. His final First-Class match was for the Combined Services v Gloucestershire at Bristol in June 1953. In 27 First-Class games he scored 995 runs @20.72.
The Venerable Wilfred Ernest Granville Payton CB MA – to give him his full and grand names and titles - finished his military career as Chaplain-in-Chief to the RAF and then became vicar of Abingdon, as well as honourary chaplain to the Queen. He died in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire on 4 September 1989, aged 75.
April 2020
Nottinghamshire First-Class Number: 355