Career
A left-arm spinner and useful lower-order batsman, Dempster played for Wellington from 1947-1948 to 1960-1961. He made his Test debut in the Second Test against South Africa in Auckland in 1952-1953, and toured South Africa the following season, playing in four of the five Tests. His best performance in Tests was in the Fourth Test in 1953-1954 in Johannesburg, when he made 21 not out batting at number eight in the first innings then, when New Zealand followed on, he opened and top-scored with 47 in the second innings.
His best first-class bowling figures of 5 for 46 came in the match against Orange Free State at Bloemfontein in 1953-1954, and he scored his only century, 105, for Wellington against Canterbury at Wellington in 1956-1957.
He became an umpire and officiated in several of Otago"s home first-class and one-day matches from 1971-1972 to 1979-1980. He also umpired three One Day International matches in Dunedin and Christchurch between 1973-1974 and 1975-1976.
He worked in Dunedin as the manager of the artificial limb service which was attached to Dunedin Hospital.