Richard Thomas was a unsung hero for many years having taken on the role of secretary between 1970 & 1994 - Yet due to work committments he was barely seen down the club and he never received the credit he deserved for all his hard work.

His playing career started in the early sixties and soon became a useful middle order batsman and useful bowler but sadly his bowling career was cut short by a back injury.

Richard scored over 2,800 runs for the club with a highest score of 73*. His bowling finished with a healthy average of 12.09 taking 31 wickets in 150 overs.

During the 1962 season Richard took a career best 8-36 vs Weston Sports.

His highest score happened in the 1964 season 73* vs Pierelli General

Then in 1965 he played in a total of 40 matches scoring 627 runs.

1969 saw Richard score 509 runs with a highest score of 45 and 1971 runs were harder to come by scoring just 200 runs with a best of 38*.

Work restricted his playing time during the next few years but Richard's largest contribution to the club was his 24 years as secretary and a strong support to Phil Pick and Tony Woodhouse as they carried the club through almost a quater of a century of cricket.

Just as Richard got on with the secretary's role ( in the background ) the players of today were sad to hear that Richard had passed away during the winter of 2006 with many of us not knowing. - ' A True Unsung Hero of Hythe & Dibden '