Billy Dow

West of Scotland Cricket Club is very sorry to learn of the passing of former club captain WDF Dow aged 92.

Billy was on the county staff at Essex in 1958-59, representing the 2nd XI when Essex were a power in the land, and also played Minor Counties cricket for Cumberland.

As an all-rounder, he was then professional at Greenock and towards the end of his career at Babcock and Wilcox CC, and also represented Clydesdale and Dunbartonshire.

An opening bowler with a unique, rhythmic action, he represented Scotland on 17 occasions between 1956 and 1967, excelling against Ireland in 1965, taking 11 wickets in a match in which Ireland were dismissed for just 25 in their second innings. He went on to captain West in 1970-71.

A highly competitive sportsman, he also played rugby at West of Scotland FC and became a talented golfer at Glasgow Golf Club.

An occasional and very welcome visitor at West and we saw him last during the league match with Clydesdale on 23rd May.

Billy was one of the characters of Scottish cricket. It was a blow when his wife, Janet, died suddenly last year, and we offer our sincere condolences on his passing to his sons, Kevin and Aidan, and his daughter, Vivienne.