Obituary: Dennis Breakwell
The flag at the Cooper Associates County Ground is flying at half mast today following the passing of Dennis Breakwell.
The former Somerset all rounder passed away in Taunton after a long illness at the age of 78.
Between 1973 and 1983 Dennis played in 165 First Class matches, scoring 3777 and taking 281 wickets. He also played in 148 one-day games, scoring 1059 runs and taking 58 wickets.
Dennis was born in the West Midlands at Brierley Hill in Staffordshire on July 2nd 1948 and grew up in a cricketing family. His father Jack enjoyed a successful career in Birmingham League cricket and captained Dudley CC.
The slow left armer 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.
He made his First Class debut for Northants in 1969 and over the next four years playing alongside the likes of Colin Milburn and Sarfraz Narwaz. Dennis appeared in 64 First Class matches, scoring 997 runs and taking 137 wickets including eight for 39 against Kent at Dover, which remained his career best.
Dennis was already an established spinner at Northants, so how was it he came to join Somerset?
Speaking in 2023 he said: “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 to go for it. That’s how I came to Somerset and became very much a Somerset person and I still am.”
Dennis joined Somerset before the start of the 1973 season and found the Club and the way of life in Taunton very much to his liking and settled in quickly. He immediately became a key part of the Somerset team, nurtured by Brian Close, that went onto 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.
After retiring, Dennis became 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 went onto play First Class cricket, including Jos Buttler.
Dennis was a very friendly and hugely likeable character who was known to many people and will be greatly missed by all.
Brian Rose, who captained Somerset during the Glory Years, said: “One of the great things about Dennis, and what he brought to to Somerset cricket, was that he was a great character and an enlivening soul in the dressing room. He was great fun to have about the team.
Brian added: “Dennis was a good cricketer and had a lot of talent, and he brought a lot to the side. His personality was his greatest legacy.”
In 2024 we filmed an episode of our Former Player Podcast with Dennis, which can be viewed below:
