by Mike Vimpany

Salisbury club cricket has been saddened by the death after a short illness of former South Wilts president Alan Eyres, a leading figure in the Wiltshire umpiring world for many years. He was 88.

Educated locally at Bishop Wordsworth and then Oxford, where he read chemistry, Alan was president at South Wilts for eight years between 2004 and 2011,

A founder member of South Wilts junior section in 1954, he was significantly involved behind the scenes with the Bemerton club, holding numerous committee positions.

“Alan was hugely instrumental in the Salisbury & South Wilts pavilion and clubhouse project and raised significant amounts of money for it,” recalled former South Wilts captain James Hayward.

“He worked overseas after his Oxford days, but once he moved back into Salisbury he devoted so much of his time to the club and to the county.

“Never a Saturday went by we’d be batting or fielding and would see Alan walking around the boundary with his collection box.

“He was such a nice guy that you could never say no and everyone he approached dug deep into their pockets to produce some pound coins to drop into the box.

“That dedication and passion is something you simply cannot replace. The club will be a poorer place without him.”

A keen golfer and member of the Salisbury & South Wilts club, Mr Eyres officiated regularly for South Wilts prior to the advent of panel umpires and was still donning the 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 and received a commemorative tie to mark his service.

He took up 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.

Among the highspots of his umpiring in the Netherlands was to officiate Holland v a Combined Oxford/Cambridge University side and stand in a match between Leicestershire and the MCC.

Upon retirement, he returned to live in Salisbury and joined the South Coast Panel for a period of 16 years.

More recently, he officiated 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, alongside being virtually an ever present at Wilton Road.

Several years ago, he was instrumental inviting Sir Michael Parkinson to speak at a black tie dinner in aid of the club at Salisbury Guildhall.

Sir Michael said: “I remember Alan well. Such men are irreplaceable in the life of any organisation.”

Mr Eyres’ life will be celebrated at Salisbury Crematorium on Thursday April 27 at 10.15am followed by a gathering at South Wilts cricket club.

Family flowers only but, if wished, donations to either South Wilts CC or the Salisbury Hospice.