Association of Cricket Officials Issue 29 | Page 13

Alan Eyres Salisbury club cricket and the Wiltshire Association of Cricket Officials was saddened by the death after a short illness of Alan Eyres, a leading figure in the Wiltshire umpiring world for many years. He was 88. Educated locally at Bishop Wordsworth School and then Oxford, where he read chemistry, Alan was President at Salisbury and South Wilts CC for eight years between 2004 and 2011. Alan officiated regularly for South Wilts prior to the advent of panel umpires, and was still pulling on his white coat until five years ago. He was a prominent member of the Wiltshire Association of Cricket Umpires and was a thoroughly respected official for almost 40 years – a remarkable length of service for which he was presented a commemorative tie. He began umpiring in 1980 with Brentwood and officiated in the Essex League before work took him to Holland, where he umpired top Dutch league cricket for three seasons between 1986 and 1988. One of the high spots of his umpiring career in the Netherlands was when he officiated a Holland v a Combined Oxford/Cambridge University side. He also stood in a match between MCC and Leicestershire CCC. On behalf of Dutch cricket, Willem Molenaar said: ‘We have fond memories of Alan, who officiated on a regular basis in the Netherlands. The way he executed his duties was very highly respected by both players and umpires alike.’ Upon retirement, Alan returned to live in Salisbury and joined the South Coast Panel for a period of 16 years. More recently, he officiated in South Wilts third and fourth team matches, besides numerous Wiltshire and youth matches. He also served as Secretary, Treasurer, Appointments Officer and Instructor with South Wilts ACU&S. He was a member of the South Coast Panel and a past Secretary of the Wiltshire Cricket Association for several years and involved in the initial formation of the Wiltshire Cricket Board, serving initially as Joint Administrator. He was a huge cricket supporter, following Wiltshire home and away in the Minor Counties Championship, as well as being a constant spectator and fund-raiser at the South Wilts CC ground. Several years ago, he was instrumental in inviting Sir Michael Parkinson to speak at the Salisbury Guildhall in aid of the Salisbury and South Wilts CC. Sir Michael said: ‘I remember Alan well. Such men are irreplaceable in the life of any organisation.’ Lorraine Elgar – Honorary Life Member Award We are delighted to announce that Lorraine Elgar has been presented with Honorary Life Membership in recognition for her services to ECB ACO. Her father played for the Army and Teynham & Lynsted CC meaning Lorraine was always surrounded by cricket, becoming the club scorer and secretary as she was the only one with a typewriter. One day, however, the umpire simply did not turn up on account of gout, and she stepped in accordingly and has never looked back. Her international career took her from umpiring in occasions such as England v Australia Women at Lord’s, to umpiring the England Women as they played on a helipad on a cross-channel ferry! She also broke a 111-year-old tradition when she became the first female umpire to stand in a Minor Counties Champions fixture in 2006. A former Board member and OSCA winner, she continues to be heavily involved in VI and disability cricket. email us at [email protected] contact us on 0121 446 2710 13