Dick Watts
1922-2005
Dick Watts of Taunton died suddenly on Thursday 8th December 2005. A great shock to his wife Betty and to all those who had the pleasure of knowing him.
Dick Watts was born in Woolacombe, Devon on 5th October 1922. As a young man Dick worked for the Water Board at Barnstable, North Devon. In 1942 he was called up and served as an armament fitter in the Royal Air Force at RAF bases in Norfolk and the Eastern Counties. It was there that he met his future wife Betty, a serving WRAF airwoman. Romance blossomed and Dick and Betty, having survived the war, had a full and very happy marriage together. On leaving active service and looking for work; jobs being scarce at that time. Dick and Betty settled in Taunton, Somerset, where Dick landed a position as a Railway Official. There were two sons and subsequently two grandsons, the pride and joy of Dick and Betty’s hearts.Dick was a well known figure around the Somerset County Cricket Ground. A cashier, scorer and latterly a programme seller Dick was a very well known supporter of his County team. A bit difficult to define which was his greatest love, his billiards or his cricket? We certainly know that one of the proudest moments of his life was when he was chosen to represent England at billiards in the 1997 Friendly Cup match at Kings Lynn. I think we are all a little bit better for knowing Dick. Our thoughts are with Betty and her family at this time, and we are all sad to part with an old friend.