St Mary's Cricket Club

Derek Shaw was born in Isleworth, and initially began working in the printing trade - but his apprenticeship was interrupted by WW2, and he joined the RAF in 1943 at the age of 17.  He served in India, and later as a tail gunner in 149 squadron Bomber Command, flew 8 operations. 

In peacetime, he again took up his vocation in printing, and in 1947 married Pauline, a union which was to produce 3 children, 5 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.  In 1968, the Shaw family moved to Chislehurst, and Derek quickly became a leading light in Sundridge Park golf club.  Pauline died in 1982.

Derek had had a distinguished career in club cricket, and therefore it was no surprise that he wanted to be involved in SMCC in its formative years (the now defunct 'Vicar's XI v. Organist's XI matches).  He always claimed to have played in SMCC's first match in 1991 - sadly no record of the match has survived.  It is, however, as umpire that he gained legendary status amongst the club and its opponents.

In all, Derek umpired over 200 matches for the club.  This was never going to be an easy task, since very few clubs have their 'own' umpire, so he always opened himself to grumbles of favouritism any time a decision went the way of 'his' team.  Most oppo's, however (particularly those we have got to know well over the years) treated him with the same respect and deference as we did ourselves.  There may have been the odd occasion when Derek's impartiality could be called into question (in particular a ball bowled well down leg side at Tunbridge Wells which brought about a feeble appeal from fine leg, and was greeted with Derek's trademark, "that's absolutely plumb!").

In his later years, Derek took to umpiring at square leg with the aid of his shooting stick, and on more than one occasion he was knocked off it, either by the ball or by an over-enthusiastic fielder - he always bounced back up, never the worse for wear.

Derek always encouraged the younger members of the team, presenting the Young Player of the Year award at many Annual Dinners.  He was also always first at the bar, dipping his hand deep into his pocket.

His performances on Tour were similarly legendary - the 'exotic' route back to his room in the New Forest (via the kitchen) springs to mind, as does last summer's tour, when he announced that his doctor said he could have just one drink a day.  As he was knocking back his fifth or sixth, somebody reminded him of the 'one a day' rule - "oh that's OK", he said, "I am only having one a day - it's just that I'm up to the 23rd of November so far".

Being such a pivotal figure in the club, it was entirely fitting that on his final journeys up and down the aisle at St Mary's, he was borne by six senior members of St Mary's CC.

There will never be another Derek; those whose lives he touched, however, will be forever grateful for his unfailing good humour, his generosity of spirit and his huge personality.

To paraphrase the words of the citation he read with such passion and resonance at every Remembrance Sunday service:

At the going down of the sun and in the morning - We will remember you, Derek.

Derek George Shaw, born 27th April 1925, was a founder member of SMCC, a long-term resident of Green Street Green and a regular member and supporter of St Mary's Church.  He died in the early hours of 6th March 2011.

The recollections on this page are obviously and necessarily only based upon his time with the club, but it was clear from the many and varied tributes paid to him by friends and family at his funeral in March 2011 that he had led a full and fulfilling life, impacting many diverse groups of people.