One of the finest players that Cumberland/Cumbria rugby league has ever produced has died in his adopted Australia.
Flimby-born Dick Huddart, who played across three decades, was 85 and as revered in Australia as he was in his native county.
A product of the Risehow and Gillhead amateur club near his own village, Huddart turned professional with Whitehaven for a reported £250 and helped them beat the touring Australians in 1956.
He was sold to St Helens where he became a devastating second-row forward who won the Lance Todd Trophy at Wembley in 1961.
It was an honour he regarded as the highest point of a glittering career.
His father and brothers were all miners working at the coalface and young Richard (Dick) served his time as a maintenance fitter at the mines, starting at 15 three days after leaving school.
The Huddart family all played Rugby League. His uncle Dan was a very solid player and he played for Workington Town. Another uncle, Dick, was a good amateur winger.
He became the first Whitehaven player to be selected to play for Great Britain, touring Australia with them and winning the Ashes.
He won caps at Whitehaven in 1958 against Australia (two matches), and New Zealand (two matches).
Strong and fast, with a powerful hand-off, Huddart was capable of bursting through the strongest of defences which made him hugely popular with Whitehaven fans,and later supporters of St Helens and St George.
It was on his return from Australia that Huddart signed for St Helens and spent over five years there, clocking up over 200 appearances. He won every honour in the game.
In 1964 he joined the St George club in Australia and once again he proved an instant hit, although he had initially big boots to fill in the retired Norm Provan.
Although he briefly returned to Cumberland, he had loved his time in Australia and in the early 1970s emigrated.
His late son Milton continued the family tradition by playing for Whitehaven.
Tributes have flowed since news of his death was announced.
Former Whitehaven chairman Tom Todd said: “I was never fortunate enough to have seen Dick Huddart play in his prime but did see him play when he returned to Whitehaven for a short spell and he was an awesome sight.
“From memory he helped the club win the Lancashire Shield which he had done previously in his first spell at the club.
“There are so many achievements and superlatives that can be laid at his door it would be difficult to list them here, but the man was iconic and to use a much overworked word he was a legend.
“I think to try and put things into some perspective I would quote from a recent T.V. show from the best player ever Mr. Alex Murphy. He picked his dream team that was made up of players he had played with and against.
“Dick Huddart and Workington’s Brian Edgar were his second rows and he was gushing about them. Can you get a better compliment than that? I don’t think so.
“Every fan of Whitehaven Rugby league Club holds Dick Huddart in great esteem and rightly so. RIP our only ever Tourist! “
