Frederick Parker (cricketer)

Frederick Anthony Vivian Parker DL JP (11 February 1913 — 26 May 1988) was an English first-class cricketer and British Army officer.

The son of William Parker, he was born at Westminster in February 1913. He was educated at Winchester College,[1] before attending the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. Parker was commissioned into the Rifle Brigade as a second lieutenant in February 1933, with promotion to lieutenant in February 1936.[2] He served in the Second World War, during which he was promoted to captain in February 1941.[3] Following the war, he made his debut in first-class cricket for Hampshire against the touring Indians at Southampton in 1946. In that same season, he made three first-class appearances for the Combined Services cricket team, prior to making a second appearance for Hampshire against Kent at Canterbury.[4] In five first-class matches, Parker scored 147 runs at an average of 16.33;[5] he made one century, a score of 116 for the Combined Services against Northamptonshire at Kettering.[6]

Parker was promoted to major in July 1946.[7] In 1949, he played minor counties cricket for Devon, making two appearances in the Minor Counties Championship.[8] Parker retired from active military service in May 1953 and ceased to belong to the Reserve of Officers in February 1963.[9][10] He was appointed a deputy lieutenant for Devon in November 1964,[11] and in the same year he was appointed a justice of the peace for Devon.[12] Parker died at Plymouth in May 1988.[6] He had been married to Pamela Mary Farmer since 1937;[13] her father was the first-class cricketer Charles Farmer.