Don Bennett served Middlesex as a player and coach for more than half a century from the time he made his debut as a 16-year-old in 1950, to his retirement as first-team coach in 1997, a role had occupied since he took over from Jack Robertson in 1968, and then as a committee member.
A right-hand middle-order batsman and fast-medium bowler, he was a fixture in the Middlesex side from 1951 to 1965, passing 1000 runs twice -in 1953 and 1955 - and regularly taking more than 50 wickets. In 1964 he made the best of his four hundreds, 117 not out against Yorkshire, sharing a seventh-wicket stand of 220 with John Murray. His best return with the ball came in 1956 when he took 7 for 47 at Hove.
He played little in his last three seasons as he slid into coaching. While as a player the county won nothing during his time, as a coach Middlesex enjoyed unprecedented success, winning seven Championships (one shared) as well as the Gillette Cup (four times), the Benson & Hedges Cup (twice) and the Sunday League.
He retired in 1997 and served on various committees and in 2007 was elected as the club president.
Bennett was also a decent footballer, and like several of the Middlesex side at the time he was on the books with Arsenal from 1951 to 1958 but he only played second-team football for them. In 1958 he moved to Coventry City where he turned out in 73 matches in three seasons.
Martin Williamson
