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   After putting away his bat and ball for the last time, Cole took to administration with relish. He became chairman of the county club unexpectedly in 1971 following the death of Heathcoat's Jack Vicary and stayed in the post until 1996 when, at the age of 72, he felt it was time to make way for a younger man, Torquay-based Roger Moylan-Jones.

   But Cole wasn't lost to the county club: he stayed on as an active president for another nine years before handing in his notice prior to the 2005 annual meeting. With no obvious successor, Cole was persuaded to stay on another year.

   One of Cole's last acts as Devon president was to nominate former Test match umpire David Shepherd as his successor. The young Shepherd played under Cole when he was Devon captain before embarking on a professional career with Gloucestershire.

   Days later Cole died in hospital in Calne, Wiltshire, where he had moved last year to be closer to two of his three sons. He is survived by his wife, Elwyn, and three sons.

Chairman pays tribute to Devon's most loyal servant

Mountford remembers a true sportsman

Cole and the tourists

Yeabsley pays tribute to father figure Cole

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