Richard Bachelor: An Obituary

Eleanor Phillips

News came recently of the death of ex Ley Hill player Richard (Dick) Bachelor in his early fifties. He died at his home (Ley Hill Farm) just outside Hobart, Tasmania.

Dick played regularly for the club between 1970 and 1977. He and his first wife emigrated to Australia in the early 80’s, but Dick was always homesick for England and would guest for Ley Hill on his frequent visits back to the motherland.  He last visited us to watch a match three years ago, just prior to his second marriage.

Dick served his time as Club Treasurer in 1971/72, and in 1973 was the Club’s best bowler of the season, taking 63 wickets in 19 games and ending up with an average of 8.07. I asked Bill what his bowling was like:

“Dick (a well built individual) was a slinger rather than a thrower who liked to hurl the ball down as fast as he could." Judging from the figures above, it was a very effective style!

We send our condolences to his widow. My own memories of Dick (when he was single) are of Bill turning up with him just as I was about to serve Sunday lunch – knowing full well that Dick was quite capable of eating at least three times as much as a normal individual at a meal! This used to happen on a regular basis but I did eventually manage to train Bill to phone and warn me that he was bringing him along so that I had a chance to prepare enough food for Dick AND the rest of us!