Trevor Ward, outstanding Shebbearian sportsman in the early 1950s, has died after a short illness. He was 71.
After Shebbear, he played cricket and rugby for the RAF, rugby for Dorset & Wilts and Devon, and cricket for Devon in the Minor Counties Championship..

As a left-handed batsman, he formed a formidable opening partnership with Paddy Hipperson. Against Bideford Grammar School in his last season at Shebbear in 1953, Ward scored 105 not out and Hipperson 116. The school declared at 252 for 2.

He trained as a teacher at St Luke’s College, Exeter, and taught for more than 30 years at schools in Paignton.

He had a long association with both the cricket and rugby clubs in the town, scoring more than 1,500 points at fly half for Paignton and was top scorer for 14 seasons.

He was immensely proud of his ability to spot young sportsmen with talent.

One of them was Chris Read who went on to play cricket for England and another, Les Mears, a former pupil, who was picked to play rugby for England recently.

In a tribute, former Test umpire Dickie Bird, who was the cricket professional at Paignton in the late 1960s, said: “I know that helping young youngsters find their way in the sporting world was immensely satisfying for him.”

Old Shebbearian Roger Horrell, with whom Ward played schoolboy rugby for Devon, said: “Trevor was a school hero and immensely popular. Of course, that went with being such a good sportsman, but it owed much to his rather gentle, modest and undemonstrative manner.”

Another OS, author Leslie Scrase said: “I shall always remember Trevor as modest, unassuming, gentle, quiet, good-natured, cheerful, friendly, decent and honest – a man of absolute integrity and reliability.”

The funeral was at Preston Church, Paignton, on April 7.

He leaves a widow Ann, and three children, Rosemary, Joanne and Tim.