THE flag at Somerset County Cricket Club is flying at half-mast today as a mark of respect following the sad loss of Ken Palmer, who passed away in Musgrove Park Hospital on Tuesday aged 87.

Ken was a classy right-handed batter and a fast medium bowler who enjoyed a long and successful playing career with Somerset, during which he became the youngest player to achieve the double of 1000 First Class runs and 100 First Class wickets in 1961 at the age of 24.

Following his playing career, he served as a First Class umpire for 31 years.

He was awarded the MBE for his services to cricket in 2003.

Born in Winchester on 22nd April 1937, he grew up in Devizes where he made quite an impression on the local cricketing scene, as a result of which he was invited to Hampshire for trials.

However, he wasn’t offered terms and instead signed for Somerset in the spring of 1954.

Ken made his First Team debut against Middlesex at Bath in June the following year and claimed two wickets.

Between 1955 and 1969 he played in 302 matches for the County, scoring 7,567 runs at an average of 20.67, scoring two centuries with a best of 125 not out against Northamptonshire in 1961.

With the ball, Ken took 837 wickets at an average of 21.10 with his best return being nine for 57 against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge in 1963. He took 100 First Class wickets in a season four times, his best being in 1963 when he claimed 126.

Ken was 12th man for England in 1963 and two years later, when he was coaching in South Africa, he got called up to play in the Fifth Test Match against South Africa at Port Elizabeth, which was to be his only appearance for his country.

After retiring from playing Ken became a First Class umpire and went on to officiate in 22 Test matches and 23 One-Day Internationals.

In retirement, Ken was a regular visitor to the Cooper Associates County Ground and made his last visit just a few weeks before his passing.

Peter Robinson, who played alongside Ken and was a good friend, said: “Ken was a gutsy cricketer, what I would call a muck and bullets player. He would always get stuck in with the bat and bowl all day. He was a tough cricketer and was unlucky not to have played more Test matches. He should have played in England really.”

Ken was one of the Somerset greats and will be much missed by everyone who knew him.

The Club will be paying our respects to Ken ahead of our Metro Bank One Day Cup match against Kent Spitfires on Friday.