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- DCL - Umpire Appointments 2016 (May 7th - July 2nd)
- Long standing records beaten
- North Devon see off Paignton chase
CRICKET in Devon has lost one of its most enthusiastic supporters following the death of John Wadsworth.
Wadsworth, who was 73 and lived in Sidmouth, died after a two-year battle against cancer.
He was a familiar figure on the Devon umpiring circuit from 1999 until he was taken ill.
Wadsworth (pictured) had given up competitive umpiring after a triple heart bypass the week after his 70th birthday, but carried on officiating matches involving Sidmouth U15s and the club’s ladies team until last season.
Wife Di said the couple met through their shared interest in cricket, which brought them together in middle age after both had been married before.
“John knew a lot of my family through cricket before he knew me,” said Di.
“I had gone back to live with my parents in Northampton and as I had been a scorer since 1962 was soon roped in at Isham, the local club.
“John was an opening batsman there – he played until he was 49 – and did a lot of work looking after the square.
“After 18 months we started seeing each other and we were together for 26 years.”
Wadsworth organised his life around cricket to leave maximum time for working on the square.
“John had been a manager for Northern Dairies, then bought his own dairy business in Northamptonshire,” said Di.
“He would start at 3am in the morning so he could finish work in mid-afternoon and spend time working on his square.”
John finished up as 2nd XI captain at Isham, but when he retired found it hard to go along just to watch.
Wife Di persuaded her husband to take up umpiring and a whole new cricket career opened up for him.
“He really got into his umpiring once he started,” said Di. “John insisted I did the training as well – he said we were in it together so I should do it too – and then he went on to became a trainer and do umpiring exams.
“John got involved in training, but mainly in Somerset after we moved down here as they didn’t have enough trainers.”
A career change took Wadsworth to the Royal Mail in Hungerford, but from 1997 onwards the couple started making regular visits to Devon, where they had bought a home ready for retirement.
In 2003 the Wadsworths retired to Devon permanently, allowing John to throw himself fully into the activities of the old Devon Umpire and Scorers Society, for which he became the appointments officer.
The couple moved around East Devon to Axminster,Honiton and Whimple before settling in Sidmouth two years ago.
“It was where we really wanted to be so we sold up and moved one more time,” said Di, who looks after the 2nd XI scorebook.
Away from cricket John Wadsworth was a keen sports fan, following the fortunes of Hull City FC as well as both codes of rugby.
“Although John was born in Nottinghamshire he moved to Hull when he was very young and always regarded himself as a proud Yorkshireman,” recalled Di (pictured, left).
“He sold programmes at the football ground in Hull as a lad and remained a supporter through thick and thin.”
Away from sport Wadsworth was an enthusiast for English Literature and history. He also spoke French and German – and claimed Viking ancestry!
“His great-great-great-grandfather was the German consul in Hull and John always claimed Viking blood,” said Di.
“Over the year he had six operations on his hands for a condition only known in the Nordic races which proved his theory, although you only had to look at him to see he was a Viking!”
John Wadsworth had three children from his first marriage, who provided him with nine grandchildren.
A private cremation will be held on Friday, December 9, followed by a service of thanksgiving at Sidmouth Parish Church the same day at 2.45pm.
A cream tea reception will be held in Sidmouth cricket pavilion after the service. All welcome.
