Sportsman and raconteur Gearing will be missed

By John Light »

There is so much that could be written about Dick Gearing, who died on August 9, aged 89.

There were so many facets to his life – cricketer, footballer, skittler, darts player, gardener – and above all raconteur.

Everyone has a story about Dick and he had a story for everyone.

Runs and wickets galore – goals galore – do not tell half the story for Dick was so much more.

His love of the games he played, and the love of his village shone through whatever he did.

He was still playing for Ampney Crucis CC at the age of 65. He retired from football (Ampney United, of course) at 45, scoring a hat-trick in his final game.

Retirement, though, was not the end for Dick. He was a cricket groundsman and this year was still working on the wicket.

He was the first chairman of the Cotswold and District Cricket Association and with Williamstrip, Bibury and Bradleys, he led Ampney into the first Cirencester League.

Always good value on the field, and more so in the pub after, Dick made many friends in the game. A match had been scheduled to mark his 90th birthday. Finding players was no problem at all. People were coming considerable distances to play.

A keen gardener, Dick’s plant stall at Ampney fete was legendary. It is rumoured that umpires and referees were grateful recipients to surplus garden produce.

Dick enjoyed playing and when he retired he did his utmost to keep games going in the village he loved so much.

To live in a vibrant Cotswold village is a privilege. Dick Gearing did so much to make Ampney Crucis exactly that.

A long-time opponent, but longer-time friend called him ‘Mr Ampney Crucis’. He would have wished for no better epitaph.