One of Somerset's best-ever amateur players, Mickey Walford, has died in the Yeatman Hospital in Sherborne, at the age of 86.

A teacher by profession at Sherborne School, his appearences were limited to the summer holidays.

Walford could have played for Warwickshire, but chose to play for Somerset after meeting with R.J.O. Meyer, and because of its proximity to Sherborne.

Between 1946 and 1952 he played for Somerset in fifty two first class matches, scoring 3393 runs at an average of 40.90. His most successful season was in 1947, when he scored 942 runs which included his career-best score of 264 against Hampshire at Weston-super-Mare.

Mickey Walford was a talented all-round sportsman who played hockey and rugby for his country, and had he devoted his life to cricket would almost certainly have played for England.

© SOMERSET