Derek Cole played for Devon for more than three decades. Educated at Teignmouth Grammar School - where he later returned briefly as a teacher - and made his debut for Devon Under-19s against Cornwall in 1939 at the age of 14. He made his full debut as a bowler in 1947, and was awarded his cap the same year after taking 11 for 77 against Dorset. He soon developed into an allrounder, making his maiden hundred in 1954 and following with two more that summer, including his career-best of 235 against Dorset. Cole's aggregate of 891 runs won him the Wilfred Rhodes Trophy, and he never bettered it despite playing for another 25 years. In all, he scored 8153 runs for the county, a record which stood for many years. He made three first-class appearances, two for Minor Counties against touring sides, captaining them against Pakistan in 1967.

Cole played his club cricket for Torquay, where he started in 1945 and continued until 1970. He was elected as Devon's president, a role he filled until he resigned days before his death after moving to Wiltshire to be closer to his family.
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