Leslie Thomas John Arlott ("John")

Leslie Thomas John Arlott (known as John Arlott) was a British sports commentator for Test Match Special. For 34 years, from 1946 to his retirement in 1980, he was the voice of cricket on BBC Radio, and his Hampshire burr has been described as the sound of the summer.
His commentary was famed for its vivid poetic imagery.

In January 1954, Arlott commentated for a special Overseas Edition of Ingot Pictorial, entitled ‘WASTE NOT WANT NOT’.

Arlott was a stylish writer, contributing regularly as a journalist and also writing the occasional hymn. He stood as Liberal candidate for Epping in 1955 and 1959. He was a connoisseur of wine and was usually accompanied by a few bottles of a good claret to help him through the commentary day.

Arlott was also a prolific writer on cricket. His numerous works include Fred (biography of Fred Trueman), Jack Hobbs, a profile of ‘The Master’, Maurice Tate, ‘Gone with the cricketers’, ‘Gone to the Test Match’, ‘Basingstoke Boy’ (autobiography), and ‘Arlott on cricket’ (anthology). He was also a writer and sometime radio commentator on association football.

In later years he lived on the Channel island of Alderney.

Sources

NoS Number 349436; Ingot Pictorial Overseas Edition Number 2; Date released January 1954: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Arlott; Accessed 17/5/2006.