Kolkata loses a beloved son-in-law | Cricket News – Times of India – Times of India

Kolkata: The City of Joy lost its beloved son-in-law with the passing away of Ted Dexter on Thursday. The former English middle-order batsman and medium-pacer, who played 62 Tests in a decade-long international career, had a strong bond with Kolkata since his marriage to Susan Georgina Longfield. The surname Longfield also has a cricketing connection in Bengal as Susan’s father Tom had led the state to their first Ranji Trophy title in 1938-39. He was also a founding member of the Calcutta Cricket Club.
Susan, who was born in Kolkata and spent the first eight years of her life here, had a special affinity for the city, returning twice for holidays, aged 12 and 15.
Dexter, who fell in love with Susan during the duo’s days at Cambridge, perhaps found it easier to impress his prospective father-in-law with his game. “Susan loves cricket more than me,” Dexter had later said.
Known as ‘Lord Ted’, the former Sussex player had visited Kolkata as the captain in 1961 and accompanied the Graham Gooch-led side as the chairman of selectors in 1993.
The duo’s love for the city was apparent when they planned to celebrate their 50th marriage anniversary in 2008 here, but sadly could not make it due to the 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai. However, they did visit in December that year.
“Our 50th anniversary is on May 2 and Susan wanted to begin commemorating our time together with a holiday in the city where she was born,” Dexter had said after reaching Kolkata.
Hosted by “old friends” tennis legend Naresh and Sunita Kumar, the Dexters enjoyed their time in a city they counted among their favourite places. “Me and my family have had some wonderful times here over the years,” Dexter had said.
The Dexters then also visited the grave of Susan’s grandfather Francis Masterman Garnett at the Mullickbazar cemetery and also the Mother’s House of Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity.
Dexter last visited the city in 2012 on an invitation from Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) to commemorate 80 years of India as a Test playing nation and India-England cricket. He shared the stage at the Eden Gardens with Nari Contractor as the oldest surviving former skippers of English and Indian teams.