Charles Brutton

Charles Phipps Brutton (20 January 1899 – 11 May 1964) was a soldier, Clerk of the peace, and amateur English cricketer.

The son of the cricketer Septimus Brutton, he was born at Southsea in January 1899. He was educated at Copthorne Preparatory School and Winchester College, where he played for the cricket eleven in 1916 and 1917. Brutton served in the final two years of the First World War as a second lieutenant with the Grenadier Guards. He remained in the Grenadier Guards following the war, with promotion to lieutenant in May 1919. He relinquished his commission in April 1920, retaining the rank of lieutenant.

He played first-class cricket for Hampshire, making his debut against Lancashire at Liverpool in the 1921 County Championship. He was a regular feature in the Hampshire side in 1921 and 1922, though played less matches in 1923, 1924 and 1925. He made his only first-class century in 1923 against Worcestershire, making an unbeaten 119. Brutton played more regularly for Hampshire in 1926 and 1927, after which his appearances tailed off, with three appearances in 1928, six in 1929, and just one in the 1930 County Championship. His best season was in 1927, when he scored 644 runs at an average of exactly 28. Outside of cricket, he worked as a clerk and Clerk of the Peace for Dorset County Council, a position he held for 25 years. He was made an CBE in the 1954 New Year Honours. Brutton died in Sussex at Ticehurst House Hospital in May 1964, following a long illness. His uncle, Ernest Brutton, also played first-class cricket.