Crickhowell & Abergavenny Cricket Clubs are greatly saddened to record the recent death of one of its oldest past players, Doug James, who played for the town from the late 1950s until the 1980s and captained the 1st XI for several seasons.
Primarily an off-spin bowler, Doug was also a very useful middle order batsman who had a strong competitive instinct and real pride in his own and his side’s performance. Like many of his era, he forged lasting friendships with opponents but sometimes revealed a feisty streak.
There was one memorable occasion in a midweek league match played at Abergavenny in the late 1960s when the contest became particularly heated and Doug told his opponent, Des Norton, to ‘keep your hair on, Dessie’, after he had just been controversially run out. Unfortunately, Des had gone prematurely bald and was at this time experimenting with a toupée – a hairpiece or partial wig, held on by adhesive – about which he was very sensitive. Despite wearing batting pads, the incensed Dessie ran at Doug, who promptly fled and was chased out of the Abergavenny ground and into Avenue Road. Never has Doug ever sprinted so fast. He was wise to have taken flight, for Des was a fine athlete, first choice goalkeeper for Abergavenny Thursdays for years and Abergavenny ‘Sports Superstar’ three years in a row.
Though born and brought up in Abergavenny, Doug did not play cricket for his hometown but opted to play the whole of his career for Crickhowell, in the shadow of the castle ruins, where he enjoyed many happy days.
Doug was passionate about almost all sport. He played football for the old Abergavenny Amateurs FC and for decades was a member of the Monmouthshire Golf Club, at Llanfoist. After retiring from cricket, he took up bowls. He needed his competitive sporting fix throughout his life, which in later years extended to being a very keen cards player.
Doug has died – after a lengthy period of ill-health – at the age of 91, leaving a wife, Chris (who was the absolute rock of his life), a daughter Claire and a son Alex, and three granddaughters (Ella, Mali and Lili). Our deepest sympathies go out to the whole of his family.
