West Country cricket is mourning the loss of Terry Willetts who played cricket for both Somerset and Cornwall who sadly passed away on October 24th at the age of 82.
Terry was born in Birmingham and on leaving school joined Avery’s who were known world wide for their weighing scales.
He was a talented all round sportsman excelling at both football and cricket. He appeared for Bristol Rovers Reserves, but turned idown the chance of a contract playing instead as a part timer with both Minehead and Bath City FC.
Terry played cricket for Weston super Mare where his talents were quickly recognised by Bill Andrews who recommended him to Somerset, who offered him a contract which he duly signed.
He made his debut for Somerset Second XI against Gloucestershire in June 1960 at Clarence Park in Weston. Terry made two further appearances for the Second XI that year and played once more in 1961.
In July 1964 the top order left handed batsman who was also a good close to the wicket fielder made his Championship debut in the drawn game against Yorkshire at Bath.
Over the course of the next three seasons Terry appeared in a total of 16 first class matches in which he scored 333 runs with a highest of 38 against Glamorgan at Weston super Mare in 1965.
At the end of the 1967 Terry departed from Somerset and took on the post of cricket coach at the Royal School in Wolverhampton, where he played for the town side and Shropshire in the Minor Counties.
After two years in the Midlands he returned to live in Bristol where he played cricket for Bedminster who he went onto captain, and appeared once again for Somerset Second XI in 1970 and 71 playing in Minor Counties championship matches.
In 1975 Terry moved to live in Cornwall where he played his club cricket for St Austell, Truro and Falmouth.
He enjoyed a long and successful career representing Cornwall in the Minor County Championships and despite losing the sight of his left eye after being hit by a bouncer he adjusted his technique and continued to represent the county, captaining the side between 1988 and 1990 by which time he was 50.
Between 1977 and 1990 Terry played in 72 Minor County Championship matches for Cornwall in which he scored 2325 runs with best of 91.
Frank Terence Willetts born 20th November 1939, died Royal Cornwall Hospital Truro. 24th October 2022.
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