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DEREK PICKTHALL

Date: 9th November 2017

DEREK PICKTHALL

Sad news from Caldy, Derek leaves the crease.

It is with regret that I have to announce the passing of Caldy CC player Derek Pickthall on 29th October 2017, aged 84.

Many of the current crop of players may not have known Derek, although he would most seasons come up to the club some Saturdays with his son and walk the outfield and take in the square between innings.

For those of us who do recall Derek it is indeed sad, sad news. As past President and Chairman Ian Free put it, ‘Derek was an absolute gent’.

Both on and off the pitch Derek was extremely enthusiastic about his cricket and specifically Caldy CC.

An occasional first team player Derek captained the second team for a number of years, overseeing the winning of the Second Team Merseyside Comp league title in 1990. A left arm slow bowler, I’m not sure there is anybody who played cricket with Derek who hasn’t mentioned his ‘chinaman’ delivery to me! Not well disguised at all is probably an understatement, however it turned square, literally, and gained Derek many a wicket over the years.  With the bat Derek was a hard hitting middle lower order player who could chip in with much needed runs!

From a personal point of view my formative years in senior cricket were spent playing in teams with Derek and the memories are flooding back as I type of the influence he had both on the team and as me as a young pup!

In the field Derek was a demon, he wasn’t at all afraid to get in close to the bat without any protection and would stick that left hand of his out to catch or stop a ball brilliantly. He was also a great character in the team and set the tone both on and off the field. It was only a few months ago I was chatting to somebody about his treatment and comments about a fielder at Capenhurst who was close in and who I’m certain Derek was trying, and often succeeding in trying to hit in order to get the fielder away from the bat!

In those games at third and fourth team level, now way back when, one thing that sticks with me was the fact that Derek was such a determined cricketer in all aspects of the game, batting, bowling and fielding. He wouldn’t give an inch, a batsman never got an easy run from his bowling or fielding and he wasn’t a cheap scalp for the bowler. That determination that he showed us young lads I am sure has stuck with us all.  Happy times playing with him!

Not only did Derek captain the second team he also oversaw the coaching of a junior side in the 70’s. Taking that age group at under 13 and then under 15 levels to be Cheshire County Champions and then in each year those sides appearing at Old Trafford for National finals. Sadly both matches were lost but a brilliant achievement in any event.

A winner of trios 3 times is a decent achievement for any club member and Derek oversaw and assisted in financing the club’s first artificial track.

Added to all of that Derek was also Chairman of the Club from 1977 through to 1981 and oversaw the Diamond Jubilee Celebration Dinner in 1981 as part of his Chairmanship.

All at Caldy CC pass on their condolences to Angela, David, Tony, Carol and the wider family. We ask that they all take comfort from the fact that Derek touched the hearts and minds of all of those who played with him at Caldy, not only was he a ‘true gent’ as Ian described he was a true clubman and a true competitor.

The funeral will take place at Landican, 11.30am Tuesday 14th November 2017.

David Brown

Chairman Caldy CC

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