Chelmsford Hockey Club is saddened to learn of the passing of Chelmsford Vice-President and former player, and former England and Great Britain player, John Cockett at the age of 92.
John played 37 times for England and 18 times for Great Britain between 1951 and 1958 as a half back. He was part of the GB squad who won a bronze medal at the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki and was also part of the team that finished fourth during the 1956 Melbourne Games.
John gave a fascinating interview about his experience of the 1952 Olympics in 2020 which can be viewed here.
As well as playing international hockey, John was also a very talented cricketer, earning a double blue at Cambridge and playing Minor Counties cricket for a number of years after graduating.
On leaving university in 1951 John played hockey for Chelmsford HC and took up a role at Felsted School, teaching mathematics and coaching cricket and hockey until retirement in the late 1980s. He was also heavily involved in the Oxford Schools Festival.
He continued to live in the village and maintained a keen interest in the school and its sports teams until his death. He is survived by his wife Heather to whom we send out condolences.
Details of the funeral./thanksgiving arrangements will be published in due course.