William Edward Hickmott (10 April 1893 – 16 January 1968) was an English professional cricketer and later a noted breeder of golden retrievers.
Born in Boxley, Kent, Hickmott was the son of William and Mary Hickmott, whose family operated the King’s Arms public house in the village. He entered the Kent County Cricket Club’s Tonbridge Nursery in 1910 and played for Kent’s Second XI from 1911.
Hickmott made his first‑class debut for Kent in August 1914, appearing in the county’s final match of the season against Hampshire. His cricketing career was interrupted by the First World War, during which he served in the West Kent Yeomanry before transferring to the Royal West Kent Regiment, attaining the rank of corporal on the Western Front.
After the war, Hickmott resumed playing as a professional, initially for Ramsbottom Cricket Club in the Lancashire League. He returned briefly to Kent in 1921 but was not retained, and subsequently joined Lancashire County Cricket Club, representing them in the 1923 and 1924 seasons. Over his first‑class career he played 37 matches, taking 92 wickets at an average of 25.65, and scoring 301 runs with a batting average of 10.37. He was a left‑arm slow‑medium bowler noted for occasional effectiveness despite inconsistent work, as described in contemporary Wisden commentary.
Beyond first‑class cricket, Hickmott excelled in league cricket, setting a Central Lancashire League record of 140 wickets in 1927 while playing for Rochdale. He later appeared for Wallasey and represented a Liverpool District side against a touring South American team in 1932.
In later life Hickmott became a prominent breeder of golden retrievers, regularly exhibiting his dogs at the Crufts dog show. He died in West Malling, Kent, at the age of 74.
References: CricketArchive, ESPN Cricinfo, Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, contemporary newspaper obituaries.
