Devon Cricket Board - Exmouth stunned by sudden death of chairman

Exmouth stunned by sudden death of chairman

Exmouth Cricket Club has been left stunned by the sudden death of chairman Richard Butler.
Butler, a former employee of Devon County Council, died in his sleep earlier this week. He was 70.
Only days earlier Butler (pictured) had chaired the club’s annual meeting – and been in fine form running the business of the evening.
He started out playing cricket for Whimple, then switched allegiances to Exmouth around 30 years ago.
Butler played as a batsman in the second team and when he playing days ended became involved in youth cricket at the Maer.
Sons James and Tom both went through the Exmouth youth system and played for the club before moving away from the area.
Butler’s involvement in youth cricket extended to raising the money needed to open a purpose-built practice area on the ground in 1994.
The caged facility with an all-weather surface cost around £20,000 to erect. It was opened by Yorkshire and England batsman Martyn Moxon during a game between Devon and Yorkshire in the NatWest Trophy.
Butler was voted in as club secretary in 2008 and stayed in the post until 2011.
When Peter Langford stood down as Exmouth chairman after a couple of years in the job, Butler stepped in.
During his first year as secretary Butler won an ECB ‘OSCA’ – the Outstanding Service to Cricket Award – for his work behind the scenes at the Maer.
Only a handful of OSCAs are given out every in a ceremony at Lord’s to the club volunteers who make the game tick,
Butler collected his award from future England captain Alastair Cook.
Butler, who retired from Devon County Council 10 years ago, was the coastal heritage officer for the Jurasic Coast. Originally, he had a background in town planning.
He was a former chairman of the governors at St Joseph’s Primary School in Exmouth.
One of the first to play tribute to Butler was Exmouth CC president Jim Wood, who said the club had lost a huge character.
“Richard was one of those people who got things done in a quiet and efficient way,” said Wood.
“If a job needed doing Richard would take care of it and get it done properly.
“The way he went about getting our first practice net area built was an example of his thorough approach to getting things done. No fuss, just get on with it.
“In his day job he was thorough and he took the same approach with his work for the cricket club.
“If anyone deserved a cricket OSCA, he did for all the work he put in over many years.
“The club will miss him in many ways. Our thoughts are with his wife Jane and sons at this tough time for them.”

DCB Ltd, University of Exeter Sports Hall, Stocker Road, Exeter, Devon EX4 4QN Company Registration Number: 7024773