Duncan Fearnley

Duncan Fearnley was a left-hand opening batsman who played 22 times in Worcestershire's maiden Championship-winning season of 1964 but never really established himself in the side. In seven seasons he made 97 appearances, his average always hovering around 20. He joined the county after trials with Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire and had played for Farsley in the Bradford League.

After leaving New Road at the end of 1968 he played for Lincolnshire, returning to Worcestershire in 1972 to captain the 2nd XI. At the same time he established his highly successful eponymous bat-manufacturing company, and became Worcestershire's high-profile chairman in 1986. He attracted some big names - notably Ian Botham - and the county won two Championships, two Sunday League titles, one B&H and one NatWest title in his 12 years as chairman, as well as more than doubling the membership.
Martin Williamson