Tributes paid to prolific Paignton and Torquay batsman Derek Semmence
ONE of Torquay CC’s most prolific run scorers in the days before league cricket started has died at the age of 81.
Derek Semmence was a former First Class cricketer with Sussex and Essex who arrived in Devon in 1963 to take up the vacant professional’s post at Torquay.
Semmence had previously played for Paignton in the latter part of the season in 1961 when he stepped in to replace pro Brian Handley, who was a full-time footballer with Torquay United.
Paignton got value for money as Semmence topped 1,000 runs and 60 wickets in around 30 games during July and August.
Torquay officials had a shrewd idea what they were going to get when Semmence applied for the position there in 1963 and he did not disappoint. During three seasons at the Recreation Ground he amassed 5,374 runs at an average above 50 and took 248 wickets.
In Devon appearances between 1964-1966, Semmence hit five half-centuries in nine appearances with a county best of 71 against Berkshire at Paignton in his debut season.
David Post, a team-mate of Semmence’s at Torquay, said it was clear why the new pro had played First Class cricket.
“He was an extremely attractive batsman who got in line to everything bowled at him,” said fast bowler Post.
“Derek was very correct in the way he played and that enabled him to score runs on all wickets.
“He bowled medium pacers very effectively too.
“And he was an excellent clubman and a really nice bloke too, which wasn’t always the case with professionals in those days.”
Devon could only select Semmence when his Torquay commitments permitted, which limited him to just nine games over his three summers at the Recreation Ground.
“As the clubs paid the wages the pros at local clubs were only able to play the odd game for Devon,” said Post.
Semmence’s first appearance for Torquay was in a pre-season friendly against a Somerset XI at Taunton. He made 43 in a 57-run defeat. He totalled 1,874 runs in all games that summer, at an average in the 50s, and snared 79 wickets.
Semmence was in the runs again in 1964. Helped by back-to-back centuries on successive days against Reading (103no) and Chichester (104), he totted up exactly 1,700 in all games and took 100 wickets.
The runs kept coming in 1965, starting with a century against Chudleigh. More than 1,800 were scored as well as 69 wickets taken.
A benefit match for the professional against a Showbiz XI, which included comedian Dickie Henderson and Z-Cars actor John Slater, drew a crowd of nearly 2,000 to the Recreation Ground and earned the beneficiary around £150.
Torquay were keen to keep Semmence for another season, but the chance to work at Hurstpierpoint College proved irresistible and he moved back to Sussex, although he remained available for Devon.
Semmence was cricket professional in two spells at Hurstpierpoint College where, for a while, he lived in a house in the grounds. He retired in 2003 after 29 years on the staff.
Derek Semmence was born in Worthing in April 1938 and educated at Shoreham Grammar School.
Sussex were quick to spot Semmence’s qualities. Shortly after his 17th birthday in 1955 he appeared in their 2nd XI for the first time.
Semmence made his First Class debut for Sussex in 1956, against Warwickshire at Edgbaston, and clocked-up 18 appearances that summer. The century he scored against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge aged 18 years and 85 days that season made him the county’s youngest centurion. Sixty-four years later the record still stands.
National Service in the RAF between 1957-58 allowed Semmence to gain experience in three-day cricket in the same sides as England cricketers Peter Parfitt, Barry Knight, Raman Subba Row and Graham Atkinson, the future Somerset captain. During those two years he appeared infrequently for Sussex. An unbeaten 95 against Notts at Hove on May 1958 was a highlight.
During 1959 and 1960 Semmence became a regular fixture in the Sussex 2nd XI but barely featured in the County Championship side. He joined Essex in 1962 but only made one appearance in the first team.
Semmence played alongside West Ham and England footballer Geoff Hurst in the 2ndXI at Essex.
Derbyshire had a look at Semmence in 1963 while he was at Torquay, but went no further than inviting him to play in a 2ndXI game.
Semmence returned to Sussex from Devon to live and work in 1966 and appeared occasionally for the county until 1968. He played Minor Counties cricket for Northumberland for two seasons (1973-74) and three games for Cambridgeshire in 1976.
Semmence’s love for cricket never abated as he carried on playing club cricket for Worthing and the Sussex Martlets as well as Sussex Over-50s, Over-60s and Over-70s until 2011.
Derek Semmence leaves a widow Christine, son Mark, daughter Jackie and a number of grandchildren. A private funeral is planned for April 20, which would have been his 82ndbirthday.
“Anything other than a small, family funeral is out of the question at the moment, but we are planning to have a memorial service in the autumn,” said son Mark.
