Dicky Mayes

Richard Mayes (7 October 1922 – 10 July 2013), known as Dicky Mayes, was an English professional cricketer who played 80 first-class cricket matches for Kent County Cricket Club between 1947 and 1953. Mayes, who was considered a stylish batsman, later coached cricket and played for Suffolk County Cricket Club. He had served in World War II.

Early life Mayes was born at Littlebourne in Kent and joined the Kent staff at Canterbury in 1939. He played once for the county Second XI before the outbreak of World War II later in the year. Initially primarily a leg spin bowler, he returned to the game after serving in North Africa during the war as a batsman, partially as a result of playing cricket on hard pitches in Egypt his service. He scored four centuries for Kent at First XI level, making his first, a score of 133 against Hampshire, in 1951 before scoring three the following season, including his highest score of 134 against Sussex at Tunbridge Wells, during which he and Bill Murray-Wood set a record for the sixth-wicket at the ground which stood until 2010. He was awarded his county cap in 1952.

Personal and later life As well as cricket, Mayes played football semi-professionally for Ramsgate Town between 1947 and 1951 and for Canterbury City F.C.

Mayes lived in Chelmondiston in Suffolk after his retirement with his wife Violet. One of their sons, Brian, also played cricket for Suffolk. Mayes died in Suffolk in July 2013 aged 90.