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Wednesday, April 23

Deryck Fairclough (middle, front row) surrounded by Devon team-mates before the game at Exeter against Berkshire in 1952. Stuart Mountford (see below) is pictured in the back row second from the right. Also pictured are (left to righ) Hubert Cath (secretary), Dennis Forward, Nigel Bloy, D Harvey-Macleay, Ken Kinnersley, Derek Cole, Mountford and Charlie Hulham. Front: Norman Borrett, Norman Humphries, Fairclough, Tom Troman, Frank Irish.

By Conrad Sutcliffe

FORMER Devon captain Deryck Fairclough, who led the county in two spells between 1952 and 1961, had died. He would have been 93 in August this year.

   Fairclough, a Lancastian by birth, moved to Exeter in 1948 to take a sports lecturing post at what was the University College of the South West.

    He stayed on the staff for 29 years, during with time the College became the University of Exeter in 1955. He retired as director of the sports centre.

   While teaching at Bradford Grammar School, Fairclough played rugby for Yorkshire and Otley. He turned out for Exeter briefly after moving to the city to work.

   It is as a cricketer that Fairclough (pictured, right) really made his name though, playing for Devon between 1949-1961 on a regular basis, and until 1964 when required.

   Fairclough had two spells as Devon captain, the 1952 season and between 1957 and 1961, and also played for the Minor Counties representative side. He made his debut for the Minor Counties XI in 1955 against the touring South Africans at Stoke-on-Trent.

   Fairclough got into the Devon side as an off-spinning all-rounder, but over the years his bowling became secondary to his batting. He had 201 innings for Devon, accumulating 4,636 runs at an average of 24.79.

   He made four centuries for Devon, the best the first of 146 against Cornwall at Barnstaple in 1954. Later in the same season, Fairclough scored 117 against Surrey 2 nd XI at the Oval in the Minor Counties play-off final, which ended in a draw. His two other centuries were scored in 1955: 118 against Cornwall at Liskeard and 102 against Oxford at Oxford Sports Club.

   Fairclough is tenth in the list of all-time Devon run scorers – and ninth in the bowling rankings with 227 victims at around 18 runs each. His best bowling performance came in the game against Dorset at Seaton in 1951 when he took eight for 54 in the first innings and five for 20 in the second, for match figures of 13 for 74.

   Fairclough's best summer with the ball was 1954 when he was the leading amateur in the overall Minor Counties averages with 35 wickets at little more than 11 runs each.

   Former team-mate Stuart Mountford, who lives in Exeter, said Fairclough was a talented player who looked at home against quality opposition.

   “I used to keep wicket to Deryck and saw what a wonderful line and length he bowled,” said Mountford.

   “In those days we used to play the likes of Surrey and Kent 2 nd XIs on our southern tour in August and would run into young professionals like Colin Cowdery, Mickey Stewart, Peter May, the Bedser twins, Ken Barrington and Peter Loder, who were a bit special even then.

   “You had to be a good player yourself to compete with them and that's what Deryck was.”

   Fairclough joined Exeter in 1948, graduating from the 3rd XI to the 1st XI in a matter of weeks, and captained the team from 1962-1965, the stayed on as vice-captain until 1967.

   He was club chairman for a decade (1967-1977) the treasurer from 1978-1991, taking over at a time when the finances of the County Ground club were in a parlous state.

   For more than 45 years Fairclough was involved in youth coaching across Devon, finally retiring from that job in 1994 aged 79.

   Devon secretary Geoff Evans, who played with Fairclough at Exeter, said his old team-mate had a selfless streak which made him a super colleague to have.

   As a young schoolboy, I first met Deryck in the 1950's when he was captain of Devon and Exeter and to me he was already an ‘elder statesman' of cricket in Devon, a position he continued to occupy long after his retirement from playing.

   “He was an extremely accomplished cricketer, who always placed the needs of the team before personal achievement,” said Evans.

   “Had he wished, he could have been a successful professional but, he reached the pinnacle for a Minor County player of captaining the Minor Counties Representative XI on a number of occasions.

   “Deryck went on to devote tremendous service both Devon and Exeter and sought no personal acclaim. He just wanted both clubs to flourish and gave his full support to anyone he felt was trying to further the cause.

   “Both clubs have lost a thoroughly nice man, a gentleman whose positive influence in promoting all the best aspects of the game was a fine example to all who follow in his footsteps.”

   In common with many club and county players of his generation, Fairclough was a member of the Devon Dumplings wandering club.

   A private family funeral took place at the Exeter & Devon Crematorium. In keeping with Deryck's wishes, it was a non-religious service. A Devon county cap was placed on the coffin before the service.

   Fairclough was married to wife Pauline for 69 years. She survives him, as do sons Michael and Jeremy.                       To comment on this story click here