Heffle Cuckoos Cricket Club

The fixtures for this year’s tour have been confirmed as below:
Sunday 5th July vs Kenn CC (EX6 7XJ) 2pm
Monday 6th July vs Budleigh Salterton CC (EX9 7BA) 5:30pm T20
Tues 7th July vs Sidmouth CC (EX10 8NT) 2pm
Wednesday 8th July vs Torquay & Kingskerswell CC (TQ2 6NX) 2pm
Thursday 9th July vs Devon Dumplings CC (at Heathcoat CC EX16 7TQ) 1pm
HQ: Livermead Cliff Hotel, Torquay.

We have tour dates for 2026.
My apologies for posting so late this time!
5 to 9th July with the advance party arriving on 4th and some not returning till 10th.
Tim Stephens (admin).

Happy Christmas to all our friends in Devon!

Dickie Bird. R.I.P.

Back in the late 1960's Dickie Bird had finished his playing career with Yorkshire and Leicestershire. He was then earning a modest living by coaching at Blundells School and also as the "Pro" for Paignton Cricket Club.
The Heffle Cuckoos were on their 21st Tour of Devon (we are now up to 78 Tours). Although most players were drawn from Club and Village teams we were fortunate to have the services of Bob Gale on 14 Tours (ex opening bat for Middlesex) and J J Warr of Middlesex and England.
Paignton would take the hat round the ground if Dickie reached a half century. The problem was that he rarely scored quickly and many potential donors had returned to their Hotels and Boarding Houses before he reached this milestone!
Whilst playing for Paignton against the Cuckoos, Bob and JJ (who knew Dickie from his days of County Cricket), suggested that Dikie should consider umpiring and applying for the First Class list.
That Autumn he submitted an application, was accepted and the rest is history.
One other memory of Dickie playing against the "Cuckoos" is of an innings he played on a poor pitch which resulted him being hit on the head by our opening bowler, Ralph Staniland.
You will not be surprised that Dickie slumped to the ground in much drama (no helmets in those days) and was taken to Torbay General.
That evening several Cuckoos went to visit him in hospital and were rather alarmed to be told by the Ward Sister that they would have to wait as the local Padre was in attendance with Mr Bird.
Was he being given the last rites?
Fortunately when the Cuckoos were allowed in they were relieved to see that Dickie was sharing a drink with the Padre!
During his many years as a First Class Umpire, Dickie would always spend a week in Torbay at the end of the Season staying with his friend, John Perry, owner of the Livermead Cliff Hotel. The Cuckoos stayed at the same Hotel for around 20 years and John Perry became a good friend to us. For those with a long memory he was also Peter May's best man.

Happy days

Graeme Hall.

We aren't trying to get more followers and suchlike.
We are an amateur touring cricket team, who travel to Devon in July every year and have been doing so for the past 77 consecutive years.
That is all.

https://www.devonlive.com/whats-on/family-kids/devon-harbourside-become-ultimate-family-10068583

Transformed Devon resort to become ultimate family destination There's plenty to celebrate

At Lord's for Anderson's final Test.

In Barrie Matthews' daughter Amy's pub, the Queen Vic in Exmouth, Devon.
With Tim May, Spider Waller, John Lambert and yours truly.

Come and join us on our tour starting on Saturday!