Devon Cricket Board - Former Devon stalwart John Woodman dies aged 81

Former Devon stalwart John Woodman dies aged 81

DEVON have lost one of their former committeemen John Woodman, who has died after a lengthy battle against ill health. He was 81.
John Woodman, whose son Mark was a Devon player, served on the county committee from 1991 to 2006.
He was an all-round sportsman who played cricket, hockey and tennis, although cricket always his sporting passion.
He was born in Wembworthy, North Devon, on June 8, 1931. Six weeks later his parents moved to Cheltenham where he grew up.
His first job was as a trainee accountant with Cheltenham Borough Council.
He then moved to a new job with Portsmouth Borough Council in 1956 where he met Mavis, his wife of 54 years.
“They met mainly due to the fact that Mavis was PA to the director of entertainment and publicity, being involved with organising concerts for the Beatles, Cliff Richard, Shirley Bassey, conferences and royal visits - and part of my dad’s job was to audit the accounts of her department,” said son Mark.
John (pictured) played for the South Hants CC before moving to a job with West Sussex County Council then moving back to Portsmouth Borough Council.
It was during John’s next job with the newly created London Borough of Bromley that Mark, the couple’s only child, was born.
Mark was profoundly deaf from birth and attended a special school in Brighton as a boarder from the age of two and a half.
John took a job with Kent County Council in Maidstone to be nearer, Brighton but really wanted to get to Exeter so Mark could attend the Royal School for the Deaf as a day pupil.
In 1974 John was delighted to be offered the post of assistant county treasurer with Devon County Council, where he stayed until his retirement in 1990.
He did his National Service with the Royal Army Pay Corps. John enjoyed service life and played a lot of tennis.
Returning to civilian life in 1951 he also liked to play hockey and was a first team player for the Lansdown Hockey Club in Cheltenham.
His cricketing ability developed as a member of Cheltenham CC, where he was a good all-rounder.
“When it came to making a choice of just one sport to concentrate on cricket won hands down,” recalled Mark.
“For nearly all his life he has had a passionate affair with cricket, Doris Day and growing dahlias.
“He encouraged me to become a bowler and when I was a youngster he used to help my friends as well when we all played on our drive.
“When house-hunting in the Ottery St Mary area he met Richard Whittington, who asked him if he played cricket When he said 'yes' he was in playing for Ottery until he retired.
“He even won the cup for the most promising newcomer, which amused everybody.
“One of his highlights was facing John Price of Middlesex and England when he opened the bowling, dad calmly dispatching his first two deliveries to the boundary.”
Woodman senior become involved with the Devon CCC committee after Mark started playing regularly.
“He was with the organisation of and finding of sponsors for the annual NatWest Trophy games, which he thoroughly enjoyed,” said Mark.
John Woodman’s funeral will take place at the East Devon Crematorium, Whimple on Friday, August 24 at 2.30pm.
John Woodman was diagnosed with Alzheimers six years ago and there will be a retiring collection at the funeral for The Alzheimer's Society.

DCB Ltd, University of Exeter Sports Hall, Stocker Road, Exeter, Devon EX4 4QN Company Registration Number: 7024773