Devon Cricket Board - Friends and rivals pay tributes to Robey

Friends and rivals pay tributes to Robey

ROBEY: I always enjoyed your company and strong views on cricket and many other subjects.

In these ultra politically correct times characters like you who were not afraid to give an opinion however controversial, are few and far between.

You will be sorely missed by many especially at Budleigh Salterton CC. I will never forget the time you ended up in the Q Club, straw hat on as always, with the rest of the Otters on a boozy Saturday night and our many post match chats in your garden in Exmouth. I hope that your good work in Africa will continue.

That attitude’s a power stronger than death, alive and burning her stone cold

When they built you Robey, they broke the mould.

Your good friend.

Neil Murrin

Budleigh Salterton CC

DURING the mid 1990s, whilst I was playing for Bovey Tracey, we went to Budleigh and played a league match on a Sunday, one of the few times Peter would be able to play.

Since I was no longer the ‘star’ batsman from my Buckfastleigh days (was I ever, I hear you ask) I was batting at seven or so, or lower!

The quickies were still on when I ventured out to bat. I managed to hang around for a few overs when Peter was tossed the ball to bowl a few at the tail-end Charlie.

I wandered off towards the pavilion to ask for my floppy hat and return my helmet. Didn't need a helmet to face a slow bowler, said I.

After Peter had arranged his field and I had taken guard, he proceeded to bowl the most enormous bouncer, cleared my head and the keeper standing up, one bounce and hit the wall by the pavilion.

I turned, gave Peter the stare, whereupon he asked: “Did you want to go get the helmet back?”

“Depends if you’re going to bowl any more of those,” says I.

He didn't say much, if anything at all, but for the rest of the over, I don't think my bat or the ball ever managed to get into the same zip code.

We had a good little chuckle in the bar after though

Andy Wakefield

Bovey Tracey CC

HE was my first ever Minor’s Counties wicket on debut at Alderley Edge for Cheshire in 2001.

I remember him in the sponsors’ tent after the game – a few beers and still how intense he was.

This certainly was the situation on the field too – Devon were a great team and being captained/ marshalled superbly.

Great charisma

Jason Whittaker

Cheshire CCC – 2001-2010

ROBEY was captain of Devon when I made my debut back in 2002. Peter was a fantastic captain whose knowledge and passion for the game was second to none.

He was able to see the tiny details that no one else could and as a captain could change the flow of a game.

At times, his captaincy bordered on the mad professor, there were many times when I was thinking 'what on earth is he doing now'? Only to be thinking moments later 'ahhh I see', as we celebrate a wicket.

Many stories will be told of how he changed fielders from the off to the leg or when he sat in the middle of the wicket refusing to bowl, but when I asked him about it he said it was all part of his plan to upset the rhythm of the game and get the opposition thinking. Mad or genius?

Robey inspired me to understand the game on a deeper level and try to see its nuances.

Peter didn't get on with everyone and was driven by a desire for Devon to win, compete but never to the detriment of the game itself.

In the last few years I have tried to pick his brain whenever I could and always looked forward to reading his articles.

I will always remember the man who first selected me to play for Devon and the man who inspired me to think deeply about the game.

David Court

Devon CCC 2002-2009

I WAS shocked to hear the tragic news about Peter Roebuck.

He was an unconventional person and definitely an unconventional captain.

We were complete opposites in many ways, but got on so well in a cricket sense. A case of opposites attract.

Both of us wanted to win matches for Devon. He battled hard on the pitch and so did I.

Robey set high standards on the pitch. If you didn’t meet them he could blow up – and it would all be forgotten minutes later.

He was great company and a fantastic converstationalist on any sport you care to mention. We had some fantastic evenings in the back garden of his home in Exmouth, talking cricket or football or whatever over a beer of a bottle of wine.

Bob Dawson

Gloucestershire 1991-1999

Devon 1988-2011, captain 2003-2009.

To add your menories of Peter Roebuck email conradcopy@btinternet.com

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