Tributes for Melton cricket stalwart who has died aged 61

David, who passed away earlier this month from a form of blood cancer aged 61, had a long love affair with the Melton club from his playing days right through to becoming chairman.

A funeral service has been organised for Grantham Crematorium, at 10.30am on March 8, but with numbers limited due to the coronavirus pandemic his family wanted to provide an opportunity for more people to pay their last respects to him.

His widow, Marie, told the Melton Times: “The reaction to David’s passed has been overwhelming, with cards and flowers and outpourings of sympathy.

“It’s been amazing.

“With social distancing we thought it was the best way to involve other people to say he will make his final journey from the club at 9am.”

David’s death has devastated his family, particularly as he seemed perfectly healthy until falling ill shortly before Christmas.

Myelodysplasia, a rare type of blood cancer was diagnosed, but it was hoped it could be controlled with treatment.

Marie explained: “He only took poorly on December 1 so it was a bit of a shock when we lost him.

“David had been going into hospital for weekly blood transfusions.

“The intention was to have chemotherapy and then have a bone marrow transplant but unfortunately he didn’t get through the chemo.”

David was born in Melton and grew up in Scalford, attending the village school and then John Ferneley College and King Edward VII School in the town.

After leaving he found work at Boulton and Paul woodyard, in Melton, and worked there throughout his career as it became Jeld-Wen.

He had various roles there over the years, in the office, as an estimator for stairs, on the shop floor as a charge hand and latterly as a timber buyer.

Marie and David both met while they worked at the woodyard and they were married at Melton Register Office in 1988 after a couple of years dating.

His other loves were horseracing - he went to the big Cheltenham meeting with friends every year - and, of course, cricket.

Marie said: “It was probably the early 1990s when David started playing at Egerton Park.

“When he gave up playing about eight years ago, he became chairman. He loved everything about the club.”

David was a team-mate of a young Stuart Broad, when the England superstar was learning the game in Park’s first XI and Sunday teams.

The pair had stayed friends and David remained immensely proud of the career Stuart has forged as one of his country’s best ever Test bowlers.

Both featured on a special Sky Sports programme taking top cricketers back to their formative years in the game with commentator Ian Ward.

David doted on his children - daughter, Vicki (19), who has often helped out with cricket teas, and son, Tom, an Egerton Park player, and his partner, Kat.

The family is hoping to hold a memorial event at Egerton Park when Covid restrictions are relaxed, so more people can celebrate his life.

Marie added: “A lot of people have said, even suppliers who he has bought from while working at Jeld-Wen, that if we have a memorial they will come to it.

“David did touch a lot of people’s lives.”

Stuart Broad contacted the Melton Times by Twitter to pay tribute to David, saying he was: “A top man. Egerton Park through and through. Will be missed greatly.”