The “Leevson-Gower” Era 

"Shrimp" H.D.G. Leveson-Gower had already been involved at the Festival for several years before 1929 when he took over responsibility for organising the matches.

He was born at Limpsfield Surrey in May 1873, attended Winchester College and Oxford University where he was awarded a blue for cricket and played for Oxford from 1983 until 1986 when he was captain. He played for Surrey, being captain from 1908 till 1910, and the Gentlemen plus MCC.

His association with Scarborough lasted until 1950, he was made a Freeman of Scarborough in 1930.

Leveson- Gowers XI v the Tourists XI was always the highlight of the Festival between the wars and the Australians as now was the team everyone wanted to see. The Australians were beaten in 1938 and this had a definite effect in 1948 when Bradman as captain requested Levison- Gower to restrict his XI to not more than six current England players to prevent the fixture becoming a sixth test at the end of a long tour.

For many years he was a member of the MCC committee and in 1909 he became a member of the Test Team selection committee , of which he was chairman in 1924 and from 1928 to 1930.



Leveson-Gowers successor was T.N. Pearce.