THE West Somerset community is mourning the sad loss of David Lethaby who passed away in Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, last Friday - his 62nd birthday.

David (pictured) was born locally and grew up in Exford where he attended the local first school before going onto Dulverton Middle and West Somerset Upper School.

From an early age David showed an aptitude for sport which was no surprise as his father John Lethaby played cricket with considerable success for both Exford and Timberscombe.

David played his early cricket for Exford and Timberscombe before he moved to Minehead in 1979 when he started playing for the town club. On the footballing front David appeared for Exmoor Rangers who play their home games at Wheddon Cross.

In 1981 David joined Minehead estate agents Chanin and Thomas where he remained until the business was sold in 2017 to Greenslade Taylor Hunt who he then went to work for, and latterly he worked for Wilkie May and Tuckwood.

From the time that he joined Minehead Cricket Club, David held virtually every post that there was - president, chairman. captain and secretary and was made a life member and a director of the club.

During his seven years as chairman of MCC, he was one of the driving forces behind the building of the new pavilion that was officially opened in 2013.

David was also treasurer of the Dunster Skittles League and a member of Minehead and West Somerset Golf Club, in addition to which he was a member of the Rotary Club.

One of the jobs that David carried out for many years was to wind up the Town Clock that is situated on the Parade in Minehead.

MCC stalwart Stuart Tudball said: “Everybody in Minehead knew David because he was involved with so many aspects of the community. I was friends with him from the time he moved to Minehead in 1979 and was the best man at their wedding.

“We shared a flat together and played cricket and football together. He was an opening batsman and was always difficult for bowlers to get out. David has done so much to help Minehead Cricket Club and he will be greatly missed by everyone.”

Former President of MCC Dick Strong said: “David loved his cricket and I can remember him as a teenager and the pair of us were in the same team and played in a match on the edge of the square at the County Ground in a Sunday game. It was short boundary and David nicked a ball off the edge and it sailed over the boundary for a six!

“David was the chairman of Minehead Cricket Club, and along with Bryan Howe who dealt with the finances and myself were the rock solid trio with total trust with each other. If we hadn’t been so strong together the pavilion would have encountered many more problems. I really got to know David well during the two years that we worked very closely together

“I had total trust in him; he was most sincere and if you asked him to do a job it would always be done and he would always respond to every text and phone call you made, which I really did appreciate. Most importantly David was a great family man.”

John Addict, who owned Chanin and Thomas and worked with David for almost 40 years, said: “We worked together from the time he came to work for Chanin and Thomas in 1981 until I sold the business in 2017. We had a wonderful relationship over that time and were good friends. It was while he was working with me he became a chartered surveyor.”

David contracted Covid and as a result of tests that he undertook he was diagnosed as having a faulty heart valve for which he underwent an operation in June this year.

Last Tuesday David was taken ill in the street in Minehead where a passer-by was able to help get him to Minehead Hospital from where he was flown to Musgrove Park but sadly passed away on Friday.

A few of David’s friends will be getting together at the Minehead Cricket Club Pavilion this evening to share a few memories.

David is survived by his wife Jayne and his two children and his parents John and Sheila.