Henry Blofeld      

Full name Henry Calthorpe Blofeld

Born September 23, 1939, Hoveton Home Farm, Norfolk

Current age 70 years 46 days

Major teams Cambridge University, Norfolk

Nickname Blowers

Batting style Right-hand bat

Fielding position Wicketkeeper

Other Commentator

Education Eton College; Cambridge University

Relation Uncle - Hon.FSG Calthorpe

Often assumed to be as dotty as his trademark bow-tie, Henry Blofeld's quaint obsession with London buses and pigeons has ensured him a place alongside John Arlott and Brian Johnston as the one of the legendary voices of BBC's Test Match Special. For many, especially those listeners who hailed his return to the airwaves in 1994 after a stint at Sky TV, Blofeld's burbling commentaries provide a pleasingly onamatapoeic backdrop to a day's cricket, and his frequent gaffes and misidentifications merely add to that charm. Like Johnston, "Blowers" was educated at Eton College and his old-school leanings are unmistakeable. Unlike Johnston, however, his bluff and hearty image is not entirely accurate, as anyone who has read his caustic columns in The Independent would testify. In part this might be attributed to frustration. As a schoolboy wicketkeeper and batsman, Blofeld was one of the finest cricketers ever to emerge from Eton, and seemed destined to play for England until he was knocked off his bike in his final year at school. Though he recovered to play for Cambridge and Norfolk, he soon turned to journalism, where he learned his trade under the watchful eye of EW Swanton. He was awarded an OBE in 2003 for his services to broadcasting.
Andrew Miller

Awarded the OBE in 2002

Sep 20, 2004

Henry Blofeld

© Getty Images

Jun 6, 2003

Henry Blofeld in full flow

© PA Photos

Jul 14, 1959

Henry Blofeld batting in the Varsity match

© PA Photos