Derrick Waters has left the crease at Sparsholt cricket for the last time – his ‘innings’ at Locks Lane lasting some 70 years and ending with his recent death a month shy of his 96th birthday.

A devoted lifelong supporter of Hampshire cricket, Bath rugby and Saints football, he joined Sparsholt in 1954 while working as a chartered quantity surveyor with Hampshire County Council at The Castle.

He was Sparsholt secretary for many years after having to retire prematurely from cricket due to a back injury sustained early in his career.

READ MORE: Tribute to hero pilot who saved hundreds of lives when his engines cut out mid-air

His sons, all-rounder David and right-armer Steve succeeded him at Sparsholt, with grandson Seren going on to represent Kenya in the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

Mr. Waters was a fine sportsman in his youth, excelling at cricket, rugby and football for Chichester Grammar School in his teens - but sadly had spinal fusion at a young age which had a significant impact on his involvement in sport.

Despite his back injury, Derrick turned out regularly for Sparsholt and played in the Igglesden Trophy winning team in 1964.

He was forced to stop playing for Sparsholt far earlier than he would have liked due his back surgery, but spent every weekend from that point watching the cricket while sitting in his car with his wife Jean from underneath the old oak tree at Locks Lane.

“He took particular pleasure at watching both myself and brother Stephen playing for Sparsholt and was there when Seren, then 13 years of age, made his debut for the club,” recalled David, who was awarded the MBE in 2009 for services to underprivileged children and cricket in Kenya.

A very decent all-rounder himself, David is a long-standing member of the Kenya Kongonis cricket club.  He was chair for 14 years and club captain for 24.

An equally proud moment for Derrick came at Lord’s in the summer of 2010 when grandson Seren scored a match winning 111 for Durham against Loughborough in the MCC Universities final.

Derrick Waters, right, David, left, and Seren are pictured in the Long Room at Lord’s after the final.
Derrick’s funeral is at the Test Valley Crematorium, near Romsey, on Thursday, May 9 at 3pm with a gathering at the Norman Edwards Ground at Sparsholt afterwards.