Henry John Denham ARKELL 1898-1982

	Player number 97 (f-c debut for Northamptonshire – 9 July 1921)
Birthplace	Edmonton, Middlesex
First-Class	2 matches, 11 runs @5.50

Harry Arkell played for the long-established Temperance club in Northampton Town League and was selected for both the league’s representative side (caught behind for a duck by Ben Bellamy, keeping wicket for the County League select) and Northants Club and Ground early in 1921. Called in as a late replacement to make his first-class debut for Northamptonshire against Derbyshire at Derby in July – a knock of 60 for Northampton Town and County School’s old boys team against the current pupils just a few days earlier was timely indeed – he failed to make double figures in either innings, although the County won comfortably with ‘Bumper’ Wells and Vernon Murdin sharing 14 wickets. Rain then allowed just 45 minutes’ play on his only other Championship appearance – at Trent Bridge the following month – and prevented him from even setting foot on the Nottingham turf. In 1924 Arkell was one of the local luminaries (along with the likes of ‘Tubby’ Vials. ‘Punch’ Raven and Arthur Bull) behind the revival of Northampton Casuals CC. He served in the RAF in both world wars as well as playing hockey at county level. His son Myles appeared for Northamptonshire Second XI in 1953 and 1954 while studying at Cambridge University.