former worcestershire ccc batsman and chairman, duncan fearnley, is celebrating his 80th birthday today. (sunday 12th april)
duncan follows in the footsteps of ex worcestershire captain norman gifford who reached the same milestone two weeks ago.
it’s congratulations and happy birthday from everyone at New Road to duncan who played a key part in one of the most successful periods in the county’s history.
he took over as chairman in 1986 at a time when his bat-making company was highly successful and his clientele included many of the game’s leading players.
duncan was able to attract star names to worcestershire, including ian botham, during a 12 year tenure in which the county won two county championships and two sunday leagues plus the benson and hedges cup and the natwest trophy finals at lord’s.
his first association with worcestershire was as a left-handed batsman in the 1960s and he played 22 times during the 1964 season when the county championship was won for the first time under captain don kenyon.
duncan made a total of 97 first class appearances, scoring 3,294 runs, before leaving at the end of the 1968 season but then returning four years later as second eleven captain.
in more recent years, he has enjoyed a spell as worcestershire ccc president from 2011-2013 and was elected an honorary vice-president of the club.
