Mr Doug Insole, CBE (1926-2017)

The College was very sad to learn this week of the death of Mr Doug Insole on 5 August, at the age of 91. 

Doug matriculated at St Catharine’s in 1946 to read history, but it’s his sporting prowess for which he will be remembered. Doug won his football Blue in all three of his years at University, and he captained CUAFC in 1948. In that same year he was a founder member and the first captain of Pegasus, a now defunct club formed of players from Cambridge and Oxford.

Despite his abilities on the football pitch, it’s cricket that Doug will always be associated with. He was made captain of CUCC in 1949 and then went on to captain Essex in 1950, before being succeeded by Trevor Bailey in 1961. Although Doug represented England on nine occasions, scoring one century against South Africa in Durban in 1957, he was arguably better known for his cricket career off the field. He spent 20 years on the MCC Committee – including being president from 2006-07 – and spent 19 years as an England selector, as well as serving as Chairman and President of Essex County Cricket Club. He was also team manager on England's Ashes tours of 1978-79 and 1982-83.

Dr John Little, Emeritus Fellow of St Catharine’s and Senior Treasurer of the Amalgamated Sports Clubs of the College remembers, “Doug was a great supporter of Cambridge and, of course, St Catharine’s and would often come to Fenner’s to support the University football team. After several heart operations his visits to Cambridge became less frequent but I saw him just recently at an FA Council meeting at Wembley when he looked frail but in good spirits. The sporting world has lost a true gentleman.” 

Doug will be very much missed by the St Catharine's community.