Bob Willis

Robert George Dylan Willis MBE (born Robert George Willis on 30 May 1949), known as Bob Willis, is an English former cricketer who played for Surrey, Warwickshire, Northern Transvaal and England. A right-handed and aggressive fast bowler with a notably long run-up, Willis spearheaded several England bowling attacks between 1971 and 1984, across 90 Test matches in which he took 325 wickets at 25.20 runs per wicket, at the time second only to Dennis Lillee. He is currently England's fourth leading wicket taker, behind Ian Botham, James Anderson, and Stuart Broad. Willis took 899 first-class wickets overall, although from 1975 onwards he bowled with constant pain, having had surgery on both knees. He nevertheless continued to find success, taking a Test career best eight wickets for 43 runs in the 1981 Ashes series against Australia, one of the all-time best Test bowling performances. He was Wisden Cricketer of the Year for 1978.

In addition to the Test arena, Willis played 64 One Day International matches for his country, taking 80 wickets, and was a prolific List-A (one day) cricketer with 421 wickets overall at 20.18. With the bat, Willis made little impression as a tail-ender with a best Test score of 28 not-out (*); however, he managed two half-centuries at first-class level and for a time held a record number of Test not-outs. Willis captained the England team in 18 Tests and 28 ODI matches between June 1982 and March 1984. Under Willis' captaincy England won seven, lost five and drew six Tests, and won 16 of the ODIs. Botham recalled Willis as "a tremendous trier.. a great team-man and an inspiration", as well as the "only world-class fast bowler in my time as an England player." The editor of Wisden wrote of him in similar terms: "His indomitable service to England is handsomely reflected in his great collection of Test wickets. Although often beset with aches and pains, he never spared himself when bowling for his country."

Robert Willis (sailor)

Robert Willis (born 15 March 1987) is an American windsurfer. He competed at the 2012 Olympics in the RS:X.

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Robert Willis (trade unionist)

Robert Willis (1904 – 20 September 1982), sometimes known as Bob Willis, was a British trade unionist.

Willis worked as a printer, then as a compositor with Reynolds News, and joined the London Society of Compositors in 1930. A member of the Communist Party of Great Britain in his youth, he left in the early 1930s, describing it as an "intellectual straitjacket". In 1938, he was elected as the Secretary of the London Trades Council, then in 1945, he became the general secretary of his union. He was elected to the General Council of the Trades Union Congress in 1947, serving until 1965, and became the President of the Trades Union Congress in 1959. From 1952, he also served as Chairman of the London Trades Council.

Under Willis' leadership, the London Society of Compositors merged with the Printing Machine Managers' Trade Society to form the "London Typographical Society". He became known as a strong speaker with forceful views. In 1964, Willis led the Compositors into a merger with the Typographical Association to form the National Graphical Association, of which he served as joint general secretary until 1969. He took a leave of absence from 1965 to 1967 to serve on the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

Bob Willis (footballer)

Bob Willis (born 24 October 1942) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Hawthorn in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

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