Prestigious youth cricket award for our own champion of Torbay

When he is not telling tales of Torbay triumph, our very own Jim Parker has a proud side gig   as a major inspiration for the next generation of Devon cricketers.

As many of you will know, the day job for Jim is his work as editor of The Torbay Weekly and he has seen it all in a half-century of journalism, but sport has always been a prominent passion in his life.

A quality footballer and cricketer in his own right, Jim moved seamlessly into coaching both sports, and he has been sharing tricks in the middle for over 35 years at his beloved Barton Cricket Club in Torquay.

An ECB Level One, Level Two and Club Coach, Jim took his first steps into coaching 35 years ago, when, alongside his late close friend and mentor Geoff Lang, they decided to re-launch the youth and Colts section at Barton CC, and invest in young players for the future of the club.

From his Barton experiences, Jim began helping with the Devon County pathway for young cricketers, starting as the U12s manager two decades ago and moving through the age groups.

As well as his work on the field of play, Jim is a driving force behind the scenes, working as chairman of the first South Devon Coaches Association, and now chair of the County Age Groups helping to oversee pathway cricket from 12s to 17s/18s and on to Devon Lions.

He is also chairman of the South Devon Development Group, Director of the old Devon Cricket Board, a Trustee of the Devon Cricket Foundation and cricket manager and chairman at Barton, where he has been a part of the furniture for 57 years!

As a team of young journalists at The Torbay Weekly, we are often sent a story or lead from Jim when he is sat on the boundary ropes, overseeing talented cricketers from across the County.

It is a devotion to the sport that has led to Jim being awarded the 2025 Bryan Hayter Cup for Outstanding Services to Devon Youth Cricket.

Jim said: “I am very humbled and honoured by the award and I am sure there must be many others more worthy of it than me, but I'd like to say a huge thank-you to everyone involved with Devon Cricket.”

Well played Mr Parker, very much deserved!