Kent County Cricket Club’s President, Brian Luckhurst, died today at the age of 66. He had been suffering from cancer of the oesophagus.
Brian joined the Club at the age of 15. He played in 335 first team matches from 1958 to 1976 before retiring to become Captain of the 2 nd XI, Club Coach and later Manager of the Ames Levett Sports Centre.
In 1985 he returned to first team duty when Kent suddenly found themselves one short against the Australian touring team. In the last few years, he was mainly involved with work for the Commercial Department.
Brian played in 21 Tests and the five unofficial Tests for England against the Rest of the World XI in 1970. He was an occasional bowler, an outstanding all-round fieldsman and a highly-effective limited overs player who contributed enormously to Kent’s years of success.
The 2003 Canterbury Cricket week was the 50 th he had attended and to mark the occasion he was presented with an inscribed silver salver by the Club’s Chairman, Carl Openshaw.
Carl Openshaw, commented:
“Brian Luckhurst has been at the heart of Kent Cricket for the past 50 years, firstly as an outstanding player, then in a variety of administrative capacities and finally as an immensely popular President.
Throughout that time, he was always caring, loyal and totally committed to Kent and, in turn, he was loved, admired and respected by everyone involved at the Club. Our thoughts and our deepest sympathy are with his wife, Raye, and his family.”
The funeral arrangements are.
The funeral for Brian Luckhurst will take place at Alkham Parish Church, Alkham, nr Dover Kent on Monday 14 March 2005 at 1.30 pm followed by private cremation at Barham Crematorium at 3.00 pm. A reception will then be held at the St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury.
Flowers are welcome and donations can be sent to the:
Mountbatten Centre Trust Fund
care of W J Farrier & Son,
161 London Road,
Dover,
Kent
CT17 OTG
Tel: (01304 201665).
