Richard THOMAS

- Secretary 1970 - 1994 (24 years)

- Scored 4,443 Runs For Hythe

- Friendly Batting Highest Score - 98 vs East Tytherley

- 14 Fifties for Hythe in all Competitions.

- Took 313 Wickets for Hythe

- Friendly Bowling Best 8-36 vs Weston Sports

Richard Thomas was a unsung hero for many years having taken on the role of secretary between 1970 & 1994 - Yet due to work committments he was barely seen down the club and he never received the credit he deserved for all his hard work.

His playing career started in the early sixties and soon became a useful middle order batsman and useful bowler but sadly his bowling career was cut short by a back injury.

Richard scored over 4,443 runs for the club with a highest score of 73*. 

During the 1962 season Richard loked a very bowler - taking a career best 8-36 vs Weston Sports and two 4 fours in the space of 8 days. By the end of the season he had taken 54 for the season including a 6-24 vs Calmore. With the bat Richard picked up a couple of 30's plus a best of the season 44* vs Boldre.

The 1064 season saw Richard score 944 runs from 44 innings with a best of 98 vs East Tytherley and three other half centuries on top. He also took 44 wickets.

Then in 1965 playing mostly as a batsman because of his back injury - he scored 627 runs in 40 matches, with a best 70 vs Milford on Sea. By the 1967 season Richard was back bowling taking 25 wkts @ 12.4 & scoring 358 runs @ 21.06. Three more fifties & a 63* highest score vs Romsey. He was also part of the side that won the Sydney Wyatt Cup by 1 wicket over Ellingham.

The 1969 Richard was again unable to bowl but helped himself to 509 runs with a highest score of 45 and 1971 runs were harder to come by scoring just 200 runs with a best of 38*.

During the seventies work restricted his playing time but he still managed to score another 1177 runs including two league fifties vs Olivers Battery 52* & Hordle 51 & for the Second XI. By 1977 he decided to hang up his boots but still contributied to the club in a massive was by continuing his role as secretary - a post he held for 24 years. Richard was a massive support to Phil Pick and Tony Woodhouse as they carried the club through almost a quater of a century of cricket.

Just as Richard got on with the secretary's role ( in the background ) the players of today were sad to hear that Richard had passed away during the winter of 2006 with many of us not knowing. - ' A True Unsung Hero of Hythe & Dibden '