Dick Dillingham MBE.
1914 - 2001
Richard
was born in Flitwick, Bedfordshire on the 26th December 1914 being late even
then for Christmas. He was a natural sportsman and also did well academically.
He was educated after Flitwick Village School at Luton Modern School and St
Paul’s College, Cheltenham. He chose a teaching career which kept him in
Bedfordshire throughout his working life with the exception of the 2nd World War
when he served in the Bedfordshire Yeomanry Royal Artillery returning from
France at the time of Dunkirk. He was commissioned and became a Captain in the
Devonshire Heavy Regiment and then Officer in Charge of the Training School at
Bovisand at Plymouth. He subsequently joined the Civil Defence Corp as a
Scientific Intelligence Officer and was an active member until it was disbanded.
He returned to his teaching career in 1946 and taught at Stotfold Boys School,
Stewartby Senior School and Roxton School before being appointed Headmaster at
the National School (later St. George of England School) at Toddington in 1950
and he remained in that position until his retirement in 1977.
Richard
married Mary and they set up home at 23, Station Road, Ampthill after the war.
They had two daughters, Christine and Margaret. He continued his sporting
activities, having been an outstanding athlete. He was the Bedfordshire champion
at the 100 yards, 220 yards, 440 yards, and hop step and jump (now the triple
jump) from the 1920s until the war and competed at the White City Stadium
representing Bedfordshire in the English Amateur Athletics Association
Championships many times. He also represented Midland Counties in many matches.
Injury forced him to retire from top class athletics and he turned his attention
to the administrative side of the sport becoming a Life Vice President of the
Bedfordshire Amateur Athletics Association, and he was actively involved with
them right up until his death.
He was instrumental in reforming Ampthill and District RUFC in 1950 becoming their Chairman and then President, a position he held, again, right up until his death. The Club is now one of the leading clubs in the County and has superb facilities and great support complete with a thriving senior section as well as colts, youth and mini rugby sections. The ground was named in his honour at the opening of the new Clubhouse in 1980.
Whilst he was doing all this, he also found time to play cricket and was Captain of Ampthill Town Cricket Club from 1947 - 1957, he was Chairman from 1957 - 1963 and President from 1963, again, right up until his death. The Club has grown over that time from one Saturday side and a midweek Wednesday side mainly for the shopkeeper’s half day, to the present day with 5 senior sides competing at weekends, 2 midweek league sides, as well as under 11s, 13s, 15s, and 17s sides. The Club also fields 3 winter indoor league sides. The ground itself has been extended twice over that time and the pavilion rebuilt and extended several times culminating in the present superb Clubhouse and separate Score Box. They have also laid an artificial pitch at the local Alameda Middle School where the 3rd XI and some youth team games are played, and the facility is used by the school as well.
Richard enjoyed very much the annual cricket fixture against the London Zoological Society, and was instrumental in ensuring it’s place in the fixture list each year. He would always be on hand to present the Cup to the winning Captain and make a fine speech. There are many amusing stories told about this fixture and they will be recalled again on the 10th July 2002 when the 75th anniversary of the first of these matches will be celebrated.
Richard served on many Committees and by his very nature became the active leader of most of them because of his enthusiasm and ability to make things happen. Among the various positions he held he was President of the East Midlands Rugby Union, Founder Chairman of the Bedfordshire County Rugby Union, Founder Chairman of the Bedfordshire Schoolboys Rugby Union Association, Vice-President of the Bedfordshire County Athletics Association. He was also President of the Ampthill Rotary Club and Founder Chairman of the Ampthill Festival Committee.
He was always very hands on with everything he did, and could often be seen in his earlier days marking out the rugby and cricket pitches, or repairing and painting the pavilion, or organising others to lend a hand. The Clubs in Ampthill have benefited from his influence and enthusiasm over so many years, and the reason that they are flourishing is largely due to his leadership and enthusiasm over those very many years. In later years when funds have been raised for various projects, he would often equate the money raised with how many jumble sales that would have needed in times past.
Probably the highlight of his sporting life was being awarded the MBE in recognition of his contribution to Sport in Bedfordshire. He received the award from Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace and always maintained that when asked by Prince Charles what he had done to deserved this award replied “Sport in Beds Sir”. Mary, Christine and Margaret were in attendance and son-in-law, Richard Butt acted as chauffeur. Big Richard did purloin a sheet of toilet paper from Buckingham Palace and it now hangs suitably framed in the pavilion.
Richard Dillingham MBE was a great influence on this Club and he will be sorely missed but will never be forgotten. Thank you Richard for all that you have done for “Sport in Beds” and Ampthill Town Cricket Club in particular.
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