Former Essex cricketer Michael John Bear died on Friday, April 7 in Torquay Hospital, aged 66.

Michael, known as 'Micky', joined Essex in 1949 and made his first class debut in 1954 against Derbyshire at Chesterfield.

He established a regular place in the side in 1957 when he hit his first century, and the following year he was awarded his County cap.

He played football for Romford and his fleetness of foot was much in evidence on the cricket field. In spite of his batting quality, he will be remembered most for his outstanding fielding.

He coached Argentina in the winter of 1958-59 and in 1960-61 he coached Canterbury in New Zealand.

He scored 1,000 runs in a season on four occasions and had an outstanding season in 1968 when he hit 1,833 runs.

His highest score came the following season against Glamorgan against Cardiff, but troubled by injury, he was forced to retire at the end of the 1968 season.

In 1973 he brought and ran an hotel in Paignton, in Devon. He was forced to sell the hotel in 1979 when he became ill, but once restored to health, he and his wife ran a small supermarket.

Mike Bear assisted the Lord's Taverners and the Rothmans Cavaliers until his move to Devon.

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