Bill Parry umpired in five Tests between 1928 and 1930, including the decisive Ashes Test which was his last, and was on the first-class list between 1926 and 1934 and although reappointed in 1935 he withdrew in May to pursue business interests. Based in Devon, he emerged as a leading Minor County umpire in the early 1920s and was a recognisable figure because of his peculiar stance behind the stumps, a legacy of his losing a leg in the war. In 1927 his artificial leg was shattered as he lost his footing moving swiftly to judge a run-out in a Yorkshire-Gloucestershire game, sustaining a fracture to the remains of his amputated limb which caused him to miss three months of the season. He stood in a handful of Somerset matches after the war but by that time his health was failing him. His son recalled: "He said he could surprise bowlers by calling no ball the split second the ball left the bowlers hand, as he used a melodic method to listen to the run up."
Martin Williamson