16th September 2025
| Mark Frost
Cricket Wales is deeply saddned to hear the news of the passing of a huge stalwart of Welsh Cricket in John Prickett.
Robin Varley who himself supported and coached with John across a very wide range of cricket activity from school, club, regional and at Wales' level shares with us his fond reflections:-
"The passing of John Prickett is not only an unwelcome loss for his family and friends but it marks further erosion in the numbers of cricketers and cricket followers who can truly be regarded as possessing Corinthian values: John was a gentleman amateur, blessed with a true love for the game and for those who trod the path that he had laid out.
A former pupil of Llanelli Boys’ Grammar School, John pursued an English degree in St, David’s College, Lampeter and went on to teach English in Worcester Royal Grammar School, before returning to Burry Port, following the death of his father, and to an English post at Coedcae School, Llanelli.
It was at this time that John became heavily involved in cricket for youngsters; he organized many matches under the banner of Coedcae School and, with others, helped to develop Dyfed Schools’ Cricket Association. Although John was a qualified coach, his great gift to cricket in the southern part of Wales was the arrangement of truly impressive numbers of matches. Countless schoolboys were able to benefit from these games and, without necessarily realizing it, were being imbued with the magic of the Game, as represented by John.
In the fullness of time, John became involved with the former Welsh Schools’ Cricket Association. This allowed others to share his love for the game; a share of all the nuances and characters that make up the game. A particular event was John’s exclamation when a good catch was taken or a particularly striking moment occurred in a game: “Splendid!” This was one of the most often repeated expressions by those youngsters privileged to be in his company at games.
One of many stories comes to mind. WSCA U15s were playing Scotland U16s at Fettes College, Edinburgh. John and I were walking round the field (anti-clockwise for wickets of course, but clockwise for runs) and we encountered one of opening bowlers, Richard Jones, a Dafen boy and son of Jeff Jones, at Third Man. “Let’s have some fun,” said John. “Hello Richard, How’s your Simon doing in the U14s?” “OK,”said Richard. “He’s a bit quicker than you, though, isn’t he? “Noooo,” came the reply. At which point Richard made his way to the middle to bowl the next over and promptly clean bowled the batter with the quickest delivery of the day. He turned to us in triumph, by which time John and I were laughing our socks off.
It is only recently that I spoke to John on the telephone. He had been unwell for some time but he was much the same as ever on the phone: full of stories and news of his family. He had lost his dear wife Liza some time ago but leaves two children, Andrew and Joanna. I have lost one of my best friends but cricket is the main loser. If there is a Heaven, there is bound to be cricket there and I bet John will already have bowled a couple of overs of his trundling “Off-ers.”
There will be literally hundreds of young and middle-aged men who will greet John’s passing with sadness, but when they consider John’s achievements as a school master and as a Cricket person, they will agree that there is only one way to respond: “SPLENDID!”
Robin Varley, MBE
Mark Frost of Cricket Wales commented: "John seemed to have always been there in making cricket happen. He organised cricket matches in every corner of Wales and most of England. His love for cricket we know infected so many people and his roles in cricket are too many to chronicle accurately. John served as a board member when the Cricket Board of Wales was formed but his contribution was vast already by that stage. We can only thank him and remember him in so many ways.