Remarkable all-rounder that was cricketer ‘Dibby’
Judy Finnigan (pictured), TV presenter, 72; Christian Lacroix, fashion designer, 69; Pierce Brosnan (pictured), actor, 67; Olga Korbut, former gymnast, 65; Hazel O’Connor, singer and actress, 65; Debra Winger, actress, 65; Janet Jackson, soul singer, 54; Gabriela Sabatini, former tennis player, 50; Tori Spelling, actress, 47.
IT was with great sadness that we at Longwood Harriers learnt of the death of Peter Dibb in the
this week, aged 86. The report highlighted the remarkable career that Peter had in local cricket, with barely a mention of his other sports of hockey and athletics.
Peter was a member of Longwood Harriers for many decades, always an enthusistic and friendly character. He loved to compete and train, doing track sessions at Leeds Road into his 80s.
Peter would compete in many track and field disciplines, a real all-rounder. He particularly enjoyed track racing and had some outstanding successes, for example as a Vet 70 in 2005 he was the national indoor champion at 800m, 1,500m and 3,000m; in 2009 as a Vet 75 he again took the national titles at 400m, 800m and 1,500m.
Peter was also prominent for many years in the administration of the Northern Masters’ Athletics Association, and travelled all over the North to compete. He was a real gentleman, always positive and supportive, and will be sorely missed by the athletics community.
RIP Peter.
Palefaced youngster to wiry old veteran
PETER (Dibby) was an obdurate opening batsman, bespectacled and bowed at the crease, Boycott style, conceding his wicket oh so reluctantly.
His widely chronicled achievements in the Huddersfield League as a truly great allrounder are not an over-exaggeration, testament to his steely determination and hours and hours practising and perfecting his undoubted skills.
An illustrious career spanned several decades from a tentative beginning at Honley in 1951 when he was described in the Drakes Centenary brochure of 1991 as a “a palefaced youngster who went on to become a “wiry old veteran”!
Always softly spoken; always worth listening to and remembered always with fondness and admiration.
Survival – a matter of pure luck?
EXTRACT from Max Hastings’ book Chastise (The Dam Busters story):
“It was a significant scandal of the bomber offensive, for which Avro shared responsibility with the RAF, that parachute escape from a stricken Lancaster was exceptionally difficult because of its inadequate emergency hatches. Bomber Command’s Operational Section repeatedly highlighted this issue: whereas half the fliers aboard doomed USAAF bombers survived, only one in five of the RAF’s did so, and just 15 per cent of Lancaster crews. Yet nothing was done.”
They were put at risk through inadequate protection, making their survival a matter of pure luck.
Today the NHS is facing a different enemy but the story is all too familiar...
Taking issue with what was set out
FEEDBACK, May 9: David Griffiths took an issue with Dr David Hill’s factual analysis of (ever-wrong) scientific advisor Prof Neil Fergusons’ flawed predictions ‘not being borne out.’
In DG’s first paragraph he states: ‘‘I have no detailed knowledge of the facts in each of the cases Dr Hill mentioned.’ Needless to say, rendering the rest pointless to read further.