Denys Carnill learned his hockey at Hitchin Grammar School, before going to Worcester College and Trinity College Oxford where he won a hockey Blue in 1949, 1950, when he was the Oxford captain, and 1951. He was also a fine cricketer and played for Welwyn Garden City and for Hertfordshire in the Minor Counties Championship between 1949-54. He appeared in just one First Class Match, for Oxford University against the Free Foresters at The Parks in 1950. He was a left-handed batsman and a leg-break bowler.
Denys Carnill was a teacher at the Dean Close public school in Cheltenham for 33 years from 1951, where he taught history, economics and hockey. He also contributed to a BBC television programme in the 1950s, teaching children how to play the sport. In the post-war years, Cheltenham was one of the strongest hockey clubs in Gloucestershire thanks to Carnhill’s presence in the side as he was probably the finest full-back in England at the time. Denys played for the County on many occasions and also represented Eastern Counties. He won the first of his 45 England caps, stretching over 10 years, in the 4-0 win over Wales at Bournemouth in 1950. Carnill also appeared for Great Britain 27 times including three Olympic Games, 1952 and as captain in 1956 and 1960. He was in the side that beat Pakistan 2-1 in the bronze medal match in 1952. He was appointed manager of the 1964 team in Tokyo but resigned his post eight months before the Games. Denys met his wife Pam at the Cheltenham Hockey Club dance in January 1961 and married her in the Chapel at Dean Close in August that year.
Great Britain