Michael Melford (journalist)

Michael Austin Melford
Born	Template:Birth date St John's Wood, London, England
Died	April 18, 1999(1999-04-18) (aged 82)
Occupation(s)	Journalist, sportswriter
Years active	1946–1988
Known for	Cricket and rugby union journalism, athletics coverage

Michael Austin Melford (9 November 1916 – 18 April 1999) was a distinguished British journalist known for his expertise in cricket, rugby union, and athletics coverage. His career at the Daily Telegraph spanned over three decades, where he held the position of cricket correspondent from 1975 until his retirement in 1981. Additionally, he served as the cricket and rugby correspondent for the Sunday Telegraph from its inception in 1961 through to 1975. Prior to this, between 1946 and 1950, Melford was the athletics correspondent for The Observer, and subsequently reported on the Olympic Games held in Melbourne (1956) and Rome (1960) for the Telegraph.

Melford was born in St John's Wood, London, into a family with theatrical roots—his father Austin Melford was a theatrical producer, his mother Jessie Winter an actress, and Lillie Langtry acted as his godmother. Despite this artistic heritage, he was recognized for a conservative and restrained journalistic approach. His education included Charterhouse School followed by Christ Church, Oxford (1935–1938), where he completed a law degree and earned athletic Blues in middle-distance running from 1936 to 1938. In 1937, he participated in a North American tour with an Oxbridge athletics team.

During the Second World War, Melford served with the Royal Artillery across several theaters including Egypt, Tunisia, Italy, and the Balkans, concluding his military service at the rank of major.

He took on leadership roles within the Cricket Writers' Club, acting as chairman in 1962 and later as president in 1985. Wisden recognized him for his reliable judgment and valued companionship. Following his departure from daily journalism, Melford ghostwrote the autobiography of cricketer Peter May entitled A Game Enjoyed, contributed obituaries, and wrote for The Telegraph Cricket Yearbook. Among his significant publications is After the Interval, a well-regarded history documenting post-war cricket.

Bibliography

• Barclays World of Cricket (Associate Editor, first edition), 1966
• Pick of The Cricketer (editor), Hutchinson, 1967
• Fresh Pick of The Cricketer (editor), The Cricketer, 1969
• Botham Rekindles the Ashes, Daily Telegraph, 1981, ISBN 0-901684-68-6
• The Daily Telegraph Cricket Yearbook (editor/co-editor), annually from 1982 to 1988
• Cricket (Pocket Sports Facts Series) (co-edited with Bill Frindall), Telegraph Publications, 1984, ISBN 0-86367-017-2
• After the Interval, The Crowood Press, 1990, ISBN 1-85223-266-8
• Denham Described (A History of Denham Golf Club 1910–1992), co-authored with Bob Fenning, Grant Books, 1992

Sources

• Barclays World of Cricket, second edition, Collins, 1980, ISBN 0-00-216349-7, p654
• Obituary from The Independent, Retrieved 23 April 2008