Kent will remember one of their finest cricketers today.
A memorial service for former England spinner Derek Underwood MBE, who died last April, aged 78, will be held at Canterbury Cathedral.
It’s a ticketed event, with registration to attend now having expired.
“Derek was one of the finest cricketers to have played for Kent and for England,” said Kent chairman Jamie Clifford.
“After his playing career, his involvement with the Lord’s Taverners, the Primary Club and other cricketing charities demonstrated how much he believed in the power of the game to improve the lives of others.
“We’re grateful for the support of the Dean, the Very Reverend Dr David Monteith, and his team at Canterbury Cathedral and look forward to coming together with Derek’s family, friends, former team-mates, and others that knew him well, to remember his life, his many achievements and his considerable contribution to his beloved county of Kent.”
A staunch one-club man, Underwood made his first-team debut, aged 17, against Yorkshire – finishing his first stint with the ball as a first-class cricketer with figures of 4-40. He then became the youngest bowler to take 100 wickets in his initial season.
Underwood made more than 900 appearances for Kent from 1963 until 1987, taking a superb 2,523 wickets at just 19.04.
He retired in 1987, having won three County Championships, two One-Day Cups, three National Leagues and three Benson & Hedges Cups as a Kent player.
He was named president of Marylebone Cricket Club in 2008 after he had served as Kent Cricket’s club president in 2006, and was inducted into the ICC’s Cricket Hall of Fame in 2009.
Speaking at the time of Underwood’s death, former Kent head coach Matt Walker said: “It goes without saying what a fantastic cricketer he was.
“One of England’s greatest, obviously one of Kent’s greatest, but for me, my dealings with Derek on a personal level were with someone who was around in the early part of my career.
“He was extremely supportive, always available but never preached, and never told you how to do it. He was always just a really kind man who was always quick with a story.
“He was really supportive of a lot of young players, not just me, in the early parts of their careers.
“I hadn’t seen Derek for a while and I knew he’d been ill for a little while but certainly (I’ve got) fond memories of Derek as a person. I was a bit young to watch him in action growing up but, when anybody joins Kent, you are surrounded by that era that was so brilliant.
“There’s a stand named after him and you’re just aware of what a fantastic cricketer he was.
“When you met him he was so humble, he never talked about how he did it.
“He was always aware that times were changing, a lot of old cricketers talk about ‘back in my day’ and how it was done, but Derek never really did that.
“He was great with a story and loved to talk about experiences but it was never about himself. He was a wonderful man.
“It’s very sad and he’ll be sorely missed.”
