Bill Proud

Roland Barton "Bill" Proud (29 September 1919 – 27 October 1961) was an English first-class cricketer.

The son of the Durham cricketer Ernest Proud, he was born in Bishop Auckland in September 1919. He was educated at Winchester College, where he played for the college cricket team from 1936 to 1938, captaining the team in his final year. It was during his final year at Winchester that he made his debut in first-class cricket for Hampshire against Derbyshire at Chesterfield in the County Championship, with him playing two further matches that season against Surrey and Nottinghamshire at Bournemouth. From Winchester, he matriculated to Brasenose College, Oxford.

In November 1938, he was commissioned into the 6th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry as a second lieutenant. Proud played first-class cricket for Oxford University during his freshman year in 1939, making ten appearances; He was appointed Durham captain in 1948, an appointment he held until his retirement in 1955. After he retired from minor counties cricket, he continued to play club cricket for Bishop Auckland. Outside of cricket, he was a farmer who acted as steward of the Durham County Agricultural Show. Proud died at Bishop Auckland in October 1961.