Anthony Mason – described as a “man of measured authority” in his MCC obituary, left Eton in 1943. Although elected a Rambler, cricket was not his main sporting interest; he was a member of the OE Tennis and Rackets Club.

Turning down a place at Oxford after National Service in the Coldstream Guards, he opted for what he described as “a proper job”.

This meant that he started as a sales manager with Cannon Brewery, which required his wife to spend many Sunday afternoons sitting patiently in the family car while Anthony sampled beer in the brewery, prior to the takeover of that company by Taylor Walker.. He subsequently became a director of J Lyons and Company, and managing director of Embassy Hotels until his retirement.

He served three years on the MCC Committee, where his contributions to the Catering Liaison Working Party, in particular, were much appreciated, as was his passion for good wine.