Ronnie Ford
Walter Ronald 'Ronnie' Ford was an English first-class cricketer and Royal Air Force officer. Ford served with the Royal Air Force in a career that spanned from 1937-1965, playing first-class cricket for the Combined Services cricket team in the later 1940s.Ford was born at Teddington. He joined the Royal Air Force prior to 1937, initially serving in the Equipment Branch, before being commissioned as a pilot officer in January 1937. His probation ended in January 1938, upon which he was promoted to flying officer. He served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, with promotion to the temporary rank of flight lieutenant coming in September 1940. He became a temporary squadron leader in September 1941, and was mentioned in dispatches in January 1943. He was later made a temporary wing commander, a rank he relinquished in November 1947.
Following the war, Ford played first-class cricket for the Combined Services cricket team, making four appearances as a wicket-keeper between 1946-1949. He scored 69 runs across his four first-class appearances, with a high score of 36 and an average of 9.85. Ford was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1960 New Year Honours. He retired from active service at his own request in October 1965, retaining the rank of group captain. He later worked for the Marylebone Cricket Club as its assistant secretary of administration from 1973-1977. He died at Midhurst in October 1998.
