Devon Cricket Board - Cockington stalwart Janes dies aged 78

Cockington stalwart Janes dies aged 78

ONE of Devon’s most durable sportsmen, cricketer and footballer Mike Janes, has died aged 78.
Janes was a promising footballer in his youth who played for Torquay United A team as a 14-year-old wing-half while still a pupil at Torquay Boys’ Grammar School.
He graduated to United’s South Western League reserve side the following season and played for four years before Saturday afternoon work commitments curtailed his soccer career.
Janes other love was cricket and in particular the Corinthians team, who played their games at picturesque Cockington Court.
He first played for Corries in 1951 as a 13 year old, starting an association that continued right up to his death on Monday.
The club was formed in 1933 and since then has only had two secretaries – Les Shobrook and Mike Janes, who took over in 1964.
Batsman Janes played on into his 50s then turned to umpiring.
Son Nigel inherited Mike’s love of cricket and football.
He turned out for Newton Dynamos FC in the South Western League and skippered Torquay CC to back-to-back Premier titles in 1996 and 1997.
Mike Janes spent almost all his working life at the Herald Express, starting as an apprentice linotype operator and rising to production manager in charge of the printing operation. He took early retirement in 1998.
The only break in Mike’s employment with the Herald Express was for two year’s National Service in the RAF.
Mike was married to wife Sandra for 57 years. The couple were married in the church overlooking Cockington cricket ground.
Son Nigel and daughter Karen were both christened in the same church.

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