John Arlott, was the voice of cricket for over 30 years, but he was also a much-loved and multi-faceted man with friends from many walks of life: from Dylan Thomas to Jo Grimond as well as Denis Compton and Ian Botham. He was also a very private man who, though well-known to nearly everyone, was yet unknown to all but a few. The son of a cemetery-keeper, Arlott began life as a clerk in a mental home before becoming a policeman in war-bombed Southampton, a tyro poet encouraged by John Betjeman, 12th man for Worcestershire CC and literary programmes producer at the BBC. He was also a Liberal candidate, author and wine correspondent. This is his biography.