Born at Hendon in 1918, Denis Charles Scott Compton the "Brylcream Boy" was an outstanding sportsman who played for Middlesex from 1936 to 1958 and during the winter months represented Arsenal (1935 to 1949) at soccer where he gained a wartime international cap, a league championship and F.A. Cup Winners medals. Playing 515 first-class matches he acquired 38,942 runs (av. 51.85) with 123 centuries and he reached a top score of 300 for M.C.C. versus North-Eastern Transvaal at Benoni in 1948/49, he took 622 wickets with a best of 7 for 36 with his spinners and he held 416 catches. Playing 78 Tests for England between 1937 and 1956/57 he accumulated 5,807 runs (av. 50.06) with 17 centuries. His top score was 278 versus Pakistan at Trent Bridge, Nottingham in 1954 and he toured abroad 8 times. He also played in India for Holkar and Europeans between 1944 and 1946. In 1947 he attained a record 18 first-class centuries whilst scoring 3,816 runs in the season. His 3rd wicket stand of 424 with Bill Edrich versus Somerset at Lord's in 1948 remains the county record for any wicket partnership. He was the first retired professional cricketer to serve as the county's President (1991-1997). He died in 1997.
