Harold McDonell

Harold Clark McDonell (19 September 1882 – 23 July 1965) was an English first-class cricketer and educator. As a cricketer, he played county cricket for both Surrey and Hampshire, and varsity cricket for Cambridge University. In nearly 130 first-class appearances, he took nearly 450 wickets with his leg spin bowling, in addition to scoring over 3,000 runs. As an educator, McDonnell began his teaching career at Twyford School, where he had attended in his youth. From 1910 to 1937, he was headmaster of the school.

Education and early cricket career The son of A. W. McDonell, he was born at Wimbledon in September 1882. He was educated firstly at Twyford School, a boys' preparatory school three miles south of Winchester, before attending Winchester College, where he played for and captained the college cricket team. In the summer following his final year at Winchester, McDonell made his debut in first-class cricket for Surrey against Hampshire at Southampton in the 1901 County Championship. After completing his education at Winchester, McDonell matriculated to Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. There, he played first-class cricket for Cambridge University Cricket Club between 1902 and 1905, making 31 appearances. his best innings bowling figures were 8 for 83 against Surrey, when he took match figures of 15 for 138. A notable batting innings for Cambridge came in 1905, when with Cambridge destined to lose the match when they lost six quick wickets, McDonell (60) combined with Toby Colbeck (107) to add 143 runs in just under ninety minutes, setting up a Cambridge victory. He headed Surrey's bowling averages during the 1903 season.

Teaching career and Hampshire cricket Over the next three year, McDonell did not play first-class cricket. This was likely due to his appointment as an assistant-master at Twyford School. He returned to first-class cricket with Hampshire in 1908, playing four times in that seasons County Championship. He often featured in at least ten first-class matches after July, playing for Hampshire both prior to and after the First World War.

From 1910 to 1937, McDonell was headmaster of Twyford School. During his headmastership, he oversaw the levelling of the grounds to make a new football pitch and the installation of a covered swimming pool. In 1923, the Memorial Library was opened, which is still in use as of . He was known for his dislike of anything modern or scientific; he refused to install gas lighting and would only have electricity in certain parts of the school. His austerity caused was noted as a cause of the decline in pupil numbers to 37 under his headmastership. A year after the end of his headmastership, he married his cousin Muriel Nightingale, née Phillips (1898-1975). McDonell died in Scotland at Onich in Inverness-shire in July 1965.