William Hawksworth OBE (3 March 1911 – 14 July 1966) was a New Zealand cricketer and doctor.
![]() Hawksworth in 1940 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Born | (1911-03-03)3 March 1911 Nelson, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Died | 14 July 1966(1966-07-14) (aged 55) Oxford, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Role | Wicket-keeper | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1929–30 to 1933–34 | Otago | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: ESPNcricinfo, 18 August 2020 |
Hawksworth was born in Nelson and educated at Nelson College from 1925 to 1928.[1] He went on to study medicine at the University of Otago, graduating MB ChB in 1935.[2] He won the university medal for obstetrics.[3]
He played twelve first-class matches for Otago between 1929 and 1934. He represented Otago as a wicket-keeper while studying in Dunedin, but played no first-class cricket after graduating as a doctor in 1935.[4]
He worked as house surgeon at New Plymouth Hospital before moving to London in the late 1930s to continue his studies.[5] He married Roberta Jolliffe of Wellington in London in July 1940.[5]
Hawksworth served in the Medical Corps of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force in World War II. He served in North Africa, Greece, Crete and Italy, commanding a field ambulance.[6] He was awarded the OBE for his services.[7]
After the war he returned to England. He became a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist to the United Oxford Hospitals. In 1959 he received the degree of MA Oxon as a Fellow of University College. He served on the Council of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists for six years.[6]
Hawksworth died in Oxford after a short illness in July 1966, survived by his widow, a son and two daughters.[6]