John Bartlett

John Bartlett (1928 – 2014) Oxford University and Sussex Cricketer

Past Sussex Martlets:

Back row:  Nigel Russell, Chris Snell, Dale Vargas, David Gibbs, Norman Philpott, Brian O’Gorman, Keith Manning, Adrian Ford, Derek Semmence, Desmond Devitt.

Front row:  Geoff Seaton, Chris Saunders,   Hubert Doggart, Geoff Wills (President), Keith Jenkin, John Bartlett, Ham Whitty.

John’s finest seasons were at Oxford University where he took 88 wickets with a best bowling performance of 5 for 77. He also played for the MCC, Combined Services, Free Foresters and Sussex

Obituary: John Norton Bartlett 1940-1945. Died 8 June, 2014

John Bartlett was an outstanding sportsman and is deservedly prominent amongst among the school alumni. In 1944 he was very active in starting Rugby Football at Chi-Hi, where soccer had been the only winter game. The efforts of John and others were successful and “The Grasshoppers” was founded – as a school society, not as an ‘official’ school team.

After a period of training the Grasshoppers embarked on a programme of games against established school teams and other sides. With John prominent as right centre three-quarter, the team stormed ahead and won all their games. This success led to the establishment of rugby as an official school game and the Grasshoppers ceased to exist. 

John was also a leading member of the cricket 1st XI, as a slow left-arm bowler and right-hand batsman. Later, at Oxford, he joined the university 1st team and was awarded his ‘Blue’.  As was then required he enlisted for National Service and joined the army for two years, during which time he was a member of the army cricket team and of the combined services team. John went on to play for Sussex and the M.C.C. and was active in first-class cricket from 1946-53. He was invited to join the Sussex Martlets in 1952. 

John Bartlett was a true sportsman in all senses of the word.

Towards the end of in his career, he entered the field of education and was owner and headmaster of a private school in Sussex.  John is survived by his six children and second wife, Carol.