On the 24 June, 1912, the esteemed cricket commentator, author, television presenter and cake connoisseur, Brian Alexander Johnston, CBE, MC, was born at The Old Rectory, Little Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire.
The youngest of four children, Johnston’s early education was at Temple Grove Preparatory School, he then went on to Eton, where he played cricket for the school second XI. Later he continued his studies at New College, Oxford ,where he kept wicket his college team, Oxford Authentics. Although an enthusiastic cricketer, he never managed to make the Varsity side.
Nicknamed ‘Johnners’ his career, for the most part, his career was spent working for the BBC, continuing from 1946 until his death in 1994. ‘Johnners’ began his cricket commentating career for BBC Television at Lord’s in June 1946, reporting on the England v India Test match. That same year Johnston was awarded the Military Cross for his military service.
In 1972, Johnston was dropped from the TV commentary team and retired from the BBC on his sixtieth birthday. Continuing to appear in a freelance capacity for Test Match Special for the next 22 years. He once complained that he had missed his cake at tea during one match, and was inundated with cakes from listeners for years to come.
In 1993 Johnston began entertaining live audiences in a series of UK theatre tours, and the same year suffered a massive heart attack.
Brian Johnston died in January 1994, at the King Edward VII Hospital, London. Prime Minister, and critic fanatic, John Major, alleged that ‘Summers simply won’t be the same without him’. A memorial service was held in Westminster Abbey in May 1994, with over 2,000 people present.
24 June, 2019