THE Somerset cricketing community is mourning the loss of Dennis Breakwell, a member of the Glory Years’ team who has passed away in Taunton after a long illness at the age of 78.

Dennis was born in the West Midlands at Brierley Hill in Staffordshire on July 2, 1948, and grew up in a cricketing family. His father Jack enjoyed a successful career in Birmingham League cricket and captained Dudley.

The slow left arm orthodox bowler and left handed batter played for Staffordshire Schools and was spotted by Worcestershire, Warwickshire and Northamptonshire where, as a 15 year old, he went for a three month trial and was offered a contract.

Dennis made his first class debut for Northants in 1969 and over the next four years played alongside the likes of Colin Milburn and Sarfraz Nawaz, He appeared in 64 first class matches, scoring 997 runs and taking 137 wickets.

Dennis was already an established spinner at Northants, so how was it he came to join Somerset?

“When I was playing at Northampton I was in the same side as Bishen Bedi who was a very fine cricketer and although I played alongside him I didn’t bowl as much as I’d like to.

“Then in 1972 I was playing against Somerset at Wellingborough and afterwards Brian Close, who was the captain asked me if I’d like to come down to Taunton and join them. I said I’d talk to the powers that be at Northants and they said that even though I was still in contract they wouldn’t stand in my way.

“I went and talked with my Dad who was a very fine cricketer himself and he said yes go for it, so that’s how I came to Somerset and became very much a Somerset person and I still am.”

Dennis Breakwell joined Somerset before the start of the 1973 season where he found the club and the way of life in Taunton very much to his liking.

Dennis immediately became a key part of the Somerset team nurtured by Close which went on to win two trophies over one weekend.

Quite apart from his cricketing ability Dennis had an infectious sense of humour and became an essential part of the Somerset dressing room whether he was in the team or not.

Between 1973 and 1983 Dennis played in 165 first class matches, in which he scored 3777 runs which included an unbeaten 100 against New Zealand and took 281 wickets at 33.22, with a best of six for 38 against Oxford University.

The all rounder also played in 148 one day games, scoring 1059 runs and taking 58 wickets.

His only century came against New Zealand in 1978 for Somerset while his career best bowling 8 for 39 was for Northants against Kent at Dover in 1970.

After retiring Dennis became a schools coach, and in 1991 he joined King’s College, Taunton, as head coach and groundsman, a post he held until 2013. During his time at King’s a number of players who he worked with him went onto play first class cricket including Jos Buttler.

Brian Rose, who captained Somerset during the Glory Years, said: “One of the great things about Dennis and what he brought to Somerset cricket was that he was a great character and enlivening soul in the dressing room.”