Pretty amazing guy, really. Not sure if it did to him, but to most people it would seem like a fairy tale, in your first match for Yorkshire (against Notts, at Bramall Lane) to score 157 not out -- especially when the scorecard also reads "L Hutton b Larwood 0". And how about in your first Test match (opening the batting against South Africa at Johannesburg) scoring 93 and 106?

We know he was the first Cambridge blue to turn professional, but was he also the first to become an umpire? In any event, I'd wager that he was the first to become a bus driver.

Does anyone know any more about him?

Paul Gibb was a most interesting man. A short book about him was written by Kit Bartlett in the Association of Cricket Historians series of Famous Cricketers in 1995. The information I give all comes from that book.

His grandfather Sir George Gibb was Managing Director of the rapidly expanding London Underground Electric Railway (1906), and his father, Goods Manager of the North Eastern Railway Company at York. After 4 years and 4 Blues at Cambridge he joined Yorkshire in 1935 and as an amateur captained them when they toured Jamaica in 1936 - a difficult task with strong professionals in the side. Arthur Wood kept him out of the Yorkshire side for much of the pre war period.

He married a daughter of a Lord Mayor of York and flew flying boats for the RAF during the war.

He went on the 1946/7 tour to Australia but lost his place as wicketkeeper to Godfrey Evans.He then dropped out of all cricket until 1951, working in a Gentlemen's Outfitters in London. Then he had the chance, which he took, to join Essex as wicketkeper and he played as a professional for them from 1951-6. Then he was injured and became a first class umpire in 1957 and was on the list until 1966.

Then he coached in South Africa, came back to England, continued to live in a caravan [ as he had done as an Umpire], and finally took up bus driving. He died suddenly at the start of his shift on 7th December 1977.

The writer David Frith was just about to start a project with Paul Gibb on writing about his life when he [Gibb] died. It is a sadness that this could not now take place. It would have been an enthralling read.

It certainly would, Anthony -- and thanks for such an interesting addition. The Forum continues to fascinate.

Frith tells a fascinating story about how Gibb turned up at The Centenary Test celebrations in Australia wearing a toupee,and no one but David who had arranged to get him there knew who he was.
When David came up with idea of telling his story ,Paul insisted that David only interview him when he was driving his bus around the country lanes of Surrey,which he did with his tape recorder precariously balanced on his lap.
Paul was certainly an eccentric character and apparently addicted to ice-cream which he consumed in large quantities.

What is less well known is his contribution of the very tricky top falsetto harmony on "Stayin' Alive" when his brothers (latterly estranged) were struggling in the recording studio...