Insole was born in Clapton, London, attended the Monoux School, Walthamstow, and lived most of his adult life at Chingford. He was cricket captain of Cambridge University whilst a history student at St Catharine's College and went on to captain Essex for many years. He scored 20,113 first-class runs for Essex, the ninth highest aggregate for the club. He played as a wicket-keeper, batsmen, and as a bowler. He was one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1956. He was President of the Marylebone Cricket Club for the twelve months, beginning on 1 October 2006. For his many services to cricket, Insole was appointed a CBE in 1979. Insole was chairman of selectors for England in the 1960s, and in 1968, he was criticized for presiding over the non-selection of Basil D'Oliveira for a tour to South Africa. Only later did it become generally known that the selectors had been pressurised into omitting D'Oliveira because he was a 'coloured' South African and his inclusion in a team to visit the country, then under apartheid, was thought to be undiplomatic. Also during Insole's time Geoffrey Boycott was dropped, in 1967 after having scored 246 not out. Boycott admitted to still feeling aggrieved about this over 40 years later, while commenting on the third Test between New Zealand and England at Napier on 24 March 2008 and again during the Test Match Special commentary of England against the West Indies at Edgbaston on 7 June 2012, where he said that Insole "should have spelt his name with an A!" Again on 9 August 2014 during the 4th Test against India at Old Trafford, Insole's name was mentioned and Boycott was off on his tirade and reiterated his thoughts on how Insole's name should be spelt and was quickly silenced by Jonathan Agnew. Insole was a first team footballer for the amateur Corinthian-Casuals F.C., and played in the 1956 FA Amateur Cup final, before they lost to Bishop Auckland in a replay. He managed the 1978-79 and 1982-83 Ashes tours to Australia, and for nine years to 2006 was chair of the European Cricket Council. Insole died on 5 August 2017, aged 91. His death was announced by Essex County Cricket Club the following day.
