Plympton president Bev Walter remembered with affection and respect following his death aged 78

By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

CRICKETER, administrator and youth team supremo for a generation of young players at Plympton CC – Bev Walter was all of these things and more.

Walter, who has died aged 78, fell under cricket’s spell as a schoolboy in North Devon and his love affair with the game lasted more than 65 years.

He played village cricket for Alwington near the family home in North Devon before moving to Plymouth in the late 1950s to start an apprenticeship as an electrician in Devonport Dockyard.

Moving to Plymouth meant finding a new club, which was Keyham CC whose home ground was on the sports ground opposite the dockyard entrance at St Levan’s gate.

When his playing career ended Walter became involved in the early days of the Plymouth Indoor Cricket League. He became involved with Plympton CC almost by accident and ran the youth section at Harewood House for 27 seasons.

Long after he stopped being an organiser for the Plymouth Indoor League, Walter took on the job of scoring Plympton’s games in the competition. 

Plympton CC appointed Bev Walter club president in 2017, a post he held until his death.

Jon Goulder, the chairman of Plympton, said Walter’s career in cricket was remarkable for its length and breadth.

“Bev did so much for so long and never lost his enthusiasm for the game,” said Goulder.

“Hundreds of young cricketers at our club benefited from his expertise running the youth section, many of whom went on to play adult cricket for us over many years.

“When John Yeoman stood down as president four years ago, Bev was the obvious replacement. He was a pro-active president, always willing to get involved and ready with words of advice for me as a new chairman.

“Even when he wasn’t very well a little while ago he wanted scoreflashes from our indoor games at Derriford sent over to him during games.

“Bev’s contribution to cricket in general and Plympton CC in particular has been remarkable. When the time is right, and once Covid is behind us, we will arrange some sort of memorial event for him.”

Phil Bees, who had a long career of his own with Old Suttonians, Whitchurch, Cornwood and Tavistock, said Walter put a huge amount back into cricket after he finished playing.

“When indoor cricket moved to Derriford in 1992, Bev served on the committee and as a representative of Plympton CC,” said Bees, now the vice-chairman of the Tolchards Devon Cricket League.

“Bev could always be seen on the balcony scoring for his club and, at a time when it could difficult to decipher most scoresheets, his were always immaculate. 

“Bev and wife Marlene were very often at the centre from the first game at midday through to the last at 8.30pm.

“Plympton have lost a truly loyal and fine clubman.”

Bev Walter, one of seven children of Edward and Mabel Walter, was born in Horns Cross near Bideford in 1943.

His cricket love affair began when he was around 12 years old when he went to watch the village team at nearby Alwington play.

“Dad’s sister Iris was the team scorer and he went along to help her,” said son Andy. “The team were one short so dad got roped in to playing and that was the start of it.”

With schooldays over a 17-year-old Walter had to look for a career. He was accepted for an electrical apprenticeship at Devonport Dockyard and worked there for more than 40 years.

“Dad was a fit-out electrician, who started on boats then moved to submarines,” said Andy.

The former cricket ground at St Levan’s gate was literally a six-hit away from the dockyard and it was inevitable Walter would end up playing there.

“My father was captain, a wicketkeeper-batsman, fixture secretary and a few other jobs besides,” said Andy. “I think the only job he didn’t do was chairman.”

Keyham lived a peripatetic existence after losing the use of the ground at St Levan’s gate. They moved to Manadon then, after losing that ground, only arranged away games.

Walter’s long association with Plympton started when son Andy saw an advert in   the Plymouth Evening Heraldinviting young players to join the club.

Said Andy: “I was 11 years old at the time, so it must have been 1988 when I saw the advert in the paper and asked dad to take me down to Plympton.

“Keyham had no youth section so if I wanted to learn how to play it had to be somewhere else.

“I can clearly remember my dad telling my mum before we left that he was not going to get involved in anything. By the time we got home a couple of hours later, I was in the under-13 side and dad was assistant manager of the team.”

Andy went on to have a long career with Plympton and Cornwood. Although retired from playing he is Plympton secretary. Brother Dave played for Plymouth Civil Service and Plympton. Injuries sustained in a car accident brought a premature end to his career.

Bev Walter’s involvement with the Plympton colts continued until 2016 when he took over as club president. Retirement from the dockyard in 2002 allowed more time for other cricket club duties, such as acting as 1st XI manager and taking over as bar secretary.

Walter was one of the driving forces behind the formation of the West Devon Youth League and served as the competition’s vice-chairman for more than 20 years from the mid-1980s.

Andy Alford, the current secretary of the WDYK, said: “Along with Mike Gaylard and Derek Battersby, Bev was one of the three original founders of our league.

“In 2014 Bev was rightfully and very deservedly awarded our most prestigious award, when he was honoured for his services to youth cricket in our region.

“The standing ovation Bev received from parents and players attending our annual presentation evening was unprecedented and never emulated since.

“Bev was a true gentleman and an honourable man who cared about the sport and all youngsters who wanted to play. 

“Bev was not about winning, although his teams tended to be successful. He was all about participation and ensuring youngsters enjoyed playing the game. His services to junior cricket should never be forgotten.”

Away from the cricket ground Walter enjoyed listening to Country-&-Western music and, with wife Marlene, enjoyed musical theatre.

“When there was no cricket on in the winter mum and dad went round Plymouth on Saturdays trying the food in the pubs,” said Andy.

“They became experts on where the best meals where and I was always telling him to write a guide book as it would become a best seller.”

Bev met Marlene on Bideford Quay in 1967. Their wedding took place in 1969 and they were married for 51 years.

Wife Marlene and sons Andy and David were with Walter when he died at his home in Leigham. Peter, the couple’s third son, died in 1974.

Bev is survived by is wife, sons, daughters-in-law Lynn and Kelly and grandchildren, Lauren, Jack and Macy. Harry, Andy and Kelly’s son, was stillborn.

Bev Walter’s funeral will take place on Friday, December 11.