A Sidmouth team of 1973 including Ted Crowe (back row, third from right). Back (left to right): F Moore, Drummond Johnstone, Tony Greaves, David Penney, Ted Crowe, Gordon Penman, Martin Maeer. Front: M Greenside, J Williams, Alan Wardrop, John Harris, John Palmer, Lloyd Baker, S Baker.
Friends pay tribute to Ted Crowe
“IT was with great sadness that I received a call from David Shepherd informing me of Ted's passing. I had spoken to Ted only a couple of days before, after he had advised me that he thought it about time to retire from the county committee, news which was less serious than it first appeared when he went on to say that he still intended to attend matches and was keen to assist if required.
Ted had always been a stalwart supporter of Devon and had starred in many roles ranging from batsman, wicketkeeper-batsman, director of marketing (scorecards), and assistant washer-up (AGM) but his piece de resistance took place at Budleigh Salterton CC when I made the mistake of promoting him to chief announcer (public address) for a local derby against Cornwall.
Since the kit included a roving microphone which did not necessitate the operator being stationed in the scorebox in order to deliver his commentary, he duly took up a position some distance away on the boundary adjacent to some Cornwall supporters.
Unfortunately,, Ted had failed to master the admittedly sensitive ON/OFF switch on the mike and following the fall of a Cornish wicket, with the disconsolate batsman trudging slowly back to the pavilion and Ted seeking information from his Cornish neighbours, the following announcement came booming over the loudspeakers;
“Which batsman was out? Was it the little fat one!”
Typically Ted took no offence when he was re-routed back to scorecard duties for the next match!
He had such a deep understanding of the game, and perhaps more importantly of the people who play it, that any time spent watching cricket in Ted's company was always an enjoyable privilege and any critique of his was unfailingly accurate and well informed with no hint of malice.
His absence will be keenly felt far beyond the confines of Tiverton, Devon, and Somerset, where trips to the Crowe's Nest will never be quite the same and the game has lost a remarkable character who left an indelible mark upon all who were fortunate enough to come across him.”
Geoff Evans (secretary Devon CCC)
"Early in the season Ted used to turn up at the ground, to see how we were doing. Having just read an article in the Daily Telegraph about young players for the future, I asked Ted what he thought of this tall fast bowler Somerset CC had just signed.
“He'll never make it – doesn't pitch up enough,” said Ted. The bowler was Andy Caddick."
Mark Stanbury (Bradninch CC)
"I was saddened to hear that Ted Crowe had passed away. I always enjoyed the Sherborne and Blundel'ls cricket matches. Ted would sit at the far end of the ground and chat casually as Mike Nurton and I would pass. He couldn’t resist a polite remark about Sherborne players and staff! Ted loved the game of cricket and he enjoyed the people connected to his beloved game. I will miss Ted at the game at Blundell's this season.
Alan Willows (Sherborne School, Dorset head coach)
“I am not sure who I will be receiving my first Christmas card from in 2008, but sadly it will not be Ted Crowe. For the past 25 years in early December an envelope with Ted's unmistakable handwriting has landed on my doormat bringing me up to speed with events at Blundell's.
It is hard to image anyone who has cared more for the school and its pupils than Ted Crowe. Indeed in many ways he has personified the values and beliefs of Blundell's, which accounts for the respect and admiration that Old Blundellians have for him.
Ted's passing is a very sad day for the school, and it is also a very sad day for the game of cricket. Ted loved cricket, and did all he could to support and encourage the game at all levels. It did not matter whether he was watching the school, a local club, his beloved Devon, or Somerset from 'Crowe's Nest' he always wished the game to be played in the right spirit.
I was delighted he was present for my final First Class innings at Taunton, but he did not thank me for helping Glamorgan to beat his beloved Somerset!
Blundell's School and the game of cricket have lost a great character, but are much the richer for all Ted has done on behalf of both.”
Hugh Morris (Managing Director England Cricket)
“I was very sad to hear of the passing of Ted, a real character of the cricketing world.
I was lucky enough to meet Ted several times and share a scorebox with him, listening to his thoughts about the game.
Playing tour matches at Blundels won't be the same.”
Sunil Vyakaranam (Olton & West Warwickshire CC)
"As a young player at Sidmouth in the early 1970s, I played with Ted on many occasions, and received a great deal of encouragement from him. A wonderful character, so warm and constantly good humoured, he was a pleasure to play with, and to know, over many subsequent years. One abiding memory was when I opened the batting with Ted. After half an hour the score was about 70 for no wicket. The score board showed Crowe was on 63 and Johnstone on 5. There was no running between the wicket; just sublime and powerful shots for four. And all the time there was a smile on his lips and a hearty guffaw never far away. (Mind you, this was pre-League cricket!).
Ted will be greatly missed by so many and I'll miss not bumping into him at Devon games."Drummond Johnstone (Sidmouth CC, Exmouth CC)
“I first meet Ted Crowe when the Old Blundellians played my old side in Birmingham, Moseley Ashfield, on the Sunday of their tour.
Those fixtures were always looked forward too with real anticipation as the Old Boys always brought a strong side and there was never any problem fielding a home side of some strength, resulting in some exceptional cricket and post-match bar discussions.
Ted's name was synonymous with fun and cricket and I never realised then that I would have the opportunity of getting to know this unique bloke better later in life.
His support of youth cricket in Devon was exceptional. He will be greatly missed in the South West but, equally, everywhere he has been involved.”
Martin Webb (DCB Youth Association)
"A wonderfully warm and knowledgeable teacher, coach and sportsman who has inspired countless cricketers and rugby footballers across the playing fields of Devon and beyond.
We first met whilst umpiring the senior colts at Blundell's in 1970. Ted seemed to know everyone involved in both sporting codes and always had time for conversation, whether it was with my father on the boundary at Sidmouth or the great Carwyn James at dinner near Tiverton.
A truly marvellous sporting person in the real sense of the word and definitely a man for all seasons."
Bob Staddon (Devon rugby player and cricketer)
I have known Ted for many years playing against him once back when he still turned out occasionally for Sidmouth as a keeper in the late 1970's - by then usually when no-one else was available.
I also played for him many times in sides of Old Blundellians, albeit I was not one of that distinguished band. He allowed me to be a honorary member, I suppose.
I also had a lot of contact with him in my capacity as a governor of Blundell's School. It was always fun, courteous and often highly amusing. He has been an absolute devotee of all things Blundellian and cricket orientated. Ted always treated me generously and kindly - as he did for so many others.
Ted will be greatly missed by generations of people. Truly one of the great characters. People say all too often these days that the real characters are just not around like they used to be. That is not really true. You just have to spot them. Ted was truly of that band. And easily spotted. Utterly unique.
I was also able and fortunate to spend time with him (but never enough) in the ‘Crowe's Nest' at Taunton, watching Somerset play. He so enjoyed hosting parties of cricketers there and presiding over lunches - and notably his many monthly winter lunch sessions when so much talk was around the humour of our wonderful game.
The ‘Crowe's Nest' will never be the same now but for many of us he will still be present and presiding. He presided there with such benign generosity and warmth.
The stories about Ted will be live for generations. His wicked sense of humour, and the times when you were never quite sure where his tongue was. It was almost always firmly in his cheek!
May I be allowed one story that displays his wonderful sense of fun? I will always treasure one moment when I was batting - I think it was for the Devon Dumplings at Blundell's School playing against the OB's. I had had what for me was a very good day and was on 98 when I took three paces down the wicket to get the big hit and glory! I missed the ball completely. The ball hit my pad. And one joker who I know well - just for fun - appealed. Up came Ted's finger and all was over. I laughed so much as I was walking back to the pavilion and commented to Ted through my laughter that it must have been a pretty impressive appeal. “That may be,” said Ted, “ but you were getting pretty boring!”
I treasure that memory far more than had I made the magical ton. Wonderful.
Ted will be so sadly missed. Friend to so many and unique among the strong characters of Blundell's School and Devon Cricket everywhere.
Mike Bull (Devon Dumplings & Heathcoat CC)
“Ted had a very soft spot for Sidmouth Cricket Club and played for us many times.
Cricket was always entertaining when Ted played. He was a very generous man. He once decided that my bat was no good and searching amongst the deep layer of Mintoe wrappers on the floor of his car, came up with a brand new Stuart Surridge, still in its bag from the maker.
He gave me the bat with the instruction to pay for it at a penny a run. Needless to say I still haven't made enough runs to cover the cost.
My family were always welcomed at Old Blundellians' matches with the offer of a free lunch and they were all impressed with Ted. One of the great characters of cricket. We will miss him and all his wonderful stories.”
Alan Wardrop (Sidmouth CC)
“I met Ted Crowe when he came with the Old Blundellians' touring side to the Midlands every summer.
As I recall the match at Olton was always the Thursday and our members looked forward with great expectation to the visit of the Old Blundellians as you never knew who he would be bringing each year, often an aspiring county cricketer who would flay the bowling around. After the game he would regale us with his cricketing stories over a pint or two.
For a while we used to tour South Devon and the final match of the tour was at Blundell's School on the Friday and though I never went on the tour there were members who would drive down to Tiverton to play or watch the game and meet Ted again.
He is remembered fondly as one of the gentlemen and characters of the game and will be sorely missed.”
Phil Williams (secretary, Olton & West Warwickshire CC)
"Ted was a special friend to so many in the Devon cricketing fraternity and I share Paul Nott's personal memory, linked to a period during the 80s and early 90s when he befriended Bradninch Cricket Club. Like manna from heaven, he would arrive with his bowling machine and run net sessions for anyone who was keen to test and hone their batting skills.
This was very much leading edge technology then and yet he had mastered the art of serving up a cocktail of fast, medium, swinging balls delivered at varying speeds. On one occasion the variety increased dramatically, as the power fluctuated from the car battery that was driving the machine. All those who survived the intermittent 100 mph beamers and slow spinning dolly droppers, were well prepared for the following Saturday's game.
He was always supportive and would follow up the weekly net practice with appearances on the boundary at the weekend. His last visit to Bradninch was a couple of seasons ago, when he came to cast his eye over our young players and in typically generous fashion, he insisted on making a donation to the youth section in return for the cup of tea I had taken him. Treasured memories of a marvellous ambassador for the game."
Derrick Foan (Chairman, Bradninch CC)
“I first met Ted through a great friend of mine and student of his at Blundell's, Jonathon McKinnel.
“Ted came along as often as he could to watch some of his old boys who played along side myself at Bradninch. He always came and left with a smile, which was a quality of his in itself.
“Ted was a fantastic man, who just loved the game. He was always glad to pass on advice to us ‘youngsters' at the time and help us to mature into better players.
“Ted never joined the players in the customary gathering place while waiting to bat. He had his own way of doing things, which was usually pulling his chair up beside his car and settling there with his lunch box for the day.
“We always went to him for a chat and of course advice. A wonderful man with a great sense of humour, he will be deeply missed by all that were lucky enough to have known him.”
Paul Nott (Bradninch CC)
“Ted was a one off. Hundreds and hundreds of boys will have experienced his incredible generosity over the years.
“He was a sporting legend, not just in Devon and the West Country but further afield.
“If you went to a rugby match at Twickenham with Ted, you could not get across the car park to the ground without every other person you passed wanting to talk to him.
“Ted coached me at rugby – never cricket – but if you were a cricketer you were accustomed to having him around.
“He always encouraged youngsters to play. He didn't try to coach them too much, but made sure they had the opportunity to play in good quality matches against better players and had the chance to improve their game that way.
“Ted never married, for no other reason than he had all the family he needed at Blundells.
“A marvelous man. We will all miss him.”
Vic Marks (Somerset, England, BBC Test Match Special and ex-Blundells)
“I remember Ted arriving at Blundell's after completing his National Service in the Army – it was quite a shock for us all.
“Here was this young man who loved rugby, loved cricket and loved life to the full. There weren't too many other masters like him.
“Ted never had a bad word to say about anyone, although he didn't suffer fool gladly either.
“You knew Ted was unhappy with someone because he almost ignored them.
“So many young cricketers and rugby players have a lot to be thankful to Ted for. He nurtured and encouraged them, but never forgot it was only a game.”
Terry Townsend (Old Blundellian, Heathcoat CC)
“Ted had retired from the teaching staff when I arrived at Blundell's, but if there was cricket game going on he would almost be inevitably there.
“I think his favourite place in the world was Big Field at Blundell's, although put him on any cricket ground where Somerset or Devon were playing and he would be happy.
“I got to know Ted wandering round the boundary at Devon matches and chatting to him. He loved the game and the people who played it.”
Nick Folland (Somerset & Devon CC, Headmaster, Blundell's Pre Prep School)
"Ted will be sorely missed by his many friends in the Devon County Cricket Club where he has been a stalwart supporter and committee member for so many years."
Roger Moylan-Jones (Chairman Devon CCC)
“Ted Crowe could have been the original Mr Chips. He started at Blundell's as a pupil in 1943 and, other than university and National Service, devoted his entire life to the school as teacher and organiser of the Old Boys' Association for more than 50 years.
“Although he left the staff almost 20 years ago, he never really left the school at all. His work for the Old Boys' association made sure of that.
“I had lunch with him the Friday before he died and he was telling me about winning the college rugby cup during his time at Cambridge more than 50 years ago. I have known Ted since the 1940s and had never heard that story before. He had so many.
“He was always proud of the achievements of old boys such as Charles Kent and Richard Sharp on the rugby field, or Vic Marks and Hugh Morris at cricket, but never boastful.
“Ted was a Baron de Coubertin figure. Play up, play up and play the game. That was his approach to life and sport.”
Christopher Price (Past chairman Old Blundellians' Association)
