sad news just breaking
The club has just been informed of the passing of Vaughan “Jocker” Hosking a true legend of Torquay CC on and off the field.
A potted history of Vaughan Hosking – “a real club stalwart over many years”, by Rob Dickinson:
“Sadly, Vaughan passed away in Spain over Easter. Vaughan joined the club in the 1970s and quickly established himself as a valuable all-rounder with excellent control with his spin bowling and a very useful middle order batter. At the time Torquay first team was always regarded as one of the strongest teams in Devon and his playing career coincided with club legend Barrie Matthews.
Vaughan was very keen to turn out in as many midweek games he could fit in around work against strong touring sides. Also, on a memorable day when fellow Cornishman Roger Biddick was scoring his maiden century for the third eleven at the sea end, Vaughan also got his maiden ton for the first team on the square. A great evening of celebrations followed.
As his playing career came to an end he devoted himself to the Club as a long-standing chairman at a time when the club was fielding 4 sides on Saturday and 2 on Sunday and facing the usual financial challenges. To keep himself busy in the winter months, he was well known around local Rugby clubs when he acted as a respected referees’ assessor.
On retirement from work he and Sandy decided to follow the sun and leave to live in Murcia Spain near to his great mate Barry. Vaughan and Sandy regularly returned to our shores every summer for 2 or 3 weeks to catch up with old friends and family in Devon and Cornwall and it was great to pace the boundary with him to recollect the great times we enjoyed over the years.”
Barrie Matthewa said, “Vaughan (Jocker) was a good friend and teammate who first came to the club in the 60s. He was a competitive all rounder and soon became captain of the 1st XI. He spent many years at the club as player, committee member and eventually chairman. A truly great clubman.”
Nigel Janes said, “Jocker was instrumental in getting to The Rec at 17 years old, he was fiercely competitive on the pitch and charming off it, especially with the ladies. I remember fondly our midweek games together and he would hand me the keeping gloves, he would twirl away his leggies but every now and then his quicker ball would disappear two feet wide of leg stump and away for four byes, “sorry chief” he used to say with a wry smile and an exaggerated dry of his hands!! What a legend, RIP Jocker,”
Phil Bradford said, “I don’t know any cricket anecdotes that stick out but I know in a Tics match once he awarded a penalty against Tics. I thought about asking / appealing the decision but decided against it. He then marched us back 10 yards and I asked why and he said, “you thought about saying something!!!””
JOCKER’S FUNERAL IS ON FRIDAY 10 APRIL AT MIDDAY - ONLINE LINK TO FOLLOW