Hubert Doggart RIP

Message from Chairman Stuart Ritchie

It is with great sadness that I have to let you know that long standing member of the Sussex Martlets and one of our Vice Presidents Hubert Doggart has passed away.

It was always an immensely joyful occasion meeting Hubert at Arundel Castle CC and to witness first hand his joy of life and cricket.  Without question, his is a great loss, especially to his beloved wife Susan.

Johnny Barclay has penned a short tribute to Hubert as follows:

Hubert was surely the most consummate all rounder. A most formidable intellect – the classics at his fingertips,and often quoted, but not necessarily understood by all! – combined with great sporting virtuosity. He collected five blues and half blues at Cambridge with cricket always top of the tree – captain of Sussex and two test matches for England in the West Indies. He was much loved in his worlds of cricket and education. He was President of MCC in 1982 and stepped in again in 1987 , with his wife Sue of course at his side, when Colin Cowdrey was unwell.

For 35 years he presided over The English Schools Cricket Association where he was both directly and indirectly responsible for the development of some of our very finest players – Gatting and Gower immediately come to mind. And as one of the leading amateur sportsmen of his time, he never neglected the non-professional game: the Sussex Martlets, Arabs and many other wandering clubs he supported and played for with great enthusiasm.

After retiring from a brilliant teaching career – as a housemaster at Winchester College and later headmaster at King’s School, Bruton in Somerset, he gave great inspiration to The Friends of Arundel Castle Cricket Club as its Chairman. Hubert and Sue in action at Arundel in partnership together made a very fine team.  Indeed there have been many famous cricketing partnerships over the years: Hobbs and Sutcliffe, Ramadhin and Valentine, Compton and Edrich but few will eclipse Hubert and Sue for the influence they have had upon sport, education and much more besides and especially the young.

His energy,scholarship and powerful voice will not be forgotten. Even from afar, if we listen, we might still hear him now.

There will be a celebration of Hubert’s life at Chichester Cathedral on Friday April 27th at 2 pm.  All are welcome to attend.

Stuart Ritchie
Chairman
The Sussex Martlets