By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

DEVON’S umpiring community has been remembering one of their own following the death of John Gauler, who celebrated his 87th birthday in early July.

Gauler was a player, firstly with Lydford then with Tavistock, but is mostly remembered for his time as a match official and also as a cricket administrator from the early 1980s onwards.

Gauler learned the umpiring ropes from the late Len Horton and stood in Devon League matches from the mid-1980s through to the early 2000s.

DCUS – the Devon Cricket Umpires’ Society – seconded Gauler to the Devon Cricket League as their representative in 1995. For the next 16 years he appointed umpires to matches, dealt with discipline issues on behalf of the league AND took on ground inspections to ensure standards were maintained.

Chris Shelton, a former chairman of DACO – the successor organisation to the DCUS – said Gauler was the right man for a job that required tact, diplomacy and common sense in abundance.

“When I first started on the panel, John was an excellent appointments officer for DACO,” said Shelton.

Any issues umpires may have had, raised in captain’s marks, were calmly dealt with, rather than make them major issues.

“John was a real gentlemen, who always had positive things to say about umpires – whether they deserved it or not.

“He did a great job, laying solid foundations for future appointments officers to follow.”

Phil Matten, the former Sandford seam bowler, rose rapidly through the umpiring ranks and said Gauler helped him hugely.

“I have a lot to thank John for as he was very influential in what I considered my rapid progression into Minor Counties umpiring in 2006, just three years after starting out,” said Matten.

“I was able to go on to the County 2nd XI competition list with my first game in 2008. The rest is history with the over-50s’ final on the Lord’s Nursery ground in 2009 – and the National Club Twenty20 finals on Sky TV at the Rose Bowl in 2010.”

Gavin Lane, another player-turned-umpire-turned-league official, first met Gauler when he was training to be an official and remembers him with affection.

“When I underwent the umpire training course under Len Horton, John Gauler appeared every now and then and was introduced as ‘the appointer’,” said Lane.

“He was a close friend of Len Horton and the two of them spent hours going over paper charts deciding who should stand with whom for particular matches.

“During the season, the two of them would potter around local grounds, quietly observing how their selections were doing.”

Geoff Coish, the Devon League secretary, said this about Gauler in his annual report after he stood down in 2010:

“John has been a good friend and helpful member, who has made himself available on numerous occasions for DCL work. He will be missed.”

During the same period he was chairman of the West Devon Lancaster Cup competition, an evening tournament for junior teams.

John William Gauler was born in Exeter in 1937. When dad Gordon, a railway signalman, and mum Beatrice moved to Tavistock during his childhood he went with them.

Gauler attended Tavistock Grammar School and when he left started an electrical apprenticeship at Devonport Dockyard. He worked there for 38 years, retiring at the age of 55. Retirement allowed time for other interests, such as gardening and growing onions.

“Dad’s always loved gardening – he was secretary of the local gardening club – and his claim to fame was in 1972 his Ailsa Craig onion was judged the second largest in the UK,” said older son Andy.

Another of Gauler’s many jobs was as bar secretary at the cricket club. That long-term association commenced in 1983 and continued for more than a decade.

Although John Gauler’s generation of Tavistock players has largely died out, Andrew did play with his father on one memorable occasion.

“I was about 14 or 15, it was an away game at Torquay and we were one short,” said Andy.

“Dad had not played for a while and certainly did not have any kit, so we rummaged around among ourselves to find some and sent him out to bat at number 11.

“I will never forget it. He hit the first ball he faced for six, the next one for four and the last one for six. That was the way he liked to play it!”

Gauler had a life-long passion for football – as a 16-year-old he went to the 1954 FA Cup final between West Bromwich Albion and Preston North End – and was a season-ticket holder at Plymouth Argyle.

“Dad used to take me to Argyle up to the late 70s or early 80s,” said Andy.

Retirement also created time to go motorcycle scrambling with friends, such as Tavistock businessman Cliff Towl.

John met wife-to-be Hazel at a Young Farmers’ Club dance in 1960. The tied the knot in the village church in Shillingford St George near Exeter two years later.

“Mum’s family came from around there so that’s where the wedding took place,” said Andy.

The couple had two children: Andy and younger brother Ian.

John Gauler suffered a heart attack eight years ago and lived a quieter life since.

A family funeral will take place on Tuesday, August 6. There will be a celebration of John Gauler’s life at Tavistock Parish Church later the same day (2.30pm).