George Winkles - an Appreciation

The last ten or twelve years have seen major improvements in playing standards, in coaching, and in umpiring.

The one area of development which was perhaps tackled last - and in which many miles have still to be travelled - is groundsmanship and excellence in pitch standards.

No one championed these areas of development with greater diligence than George Winkles, whose sudden death last weekend stunned the local cricket fraternity.

From the quiet but firm example which he set at Burridge, through the painstaking work he put in to Hampshire Cricket Board and Southern Premier League accreditation, to his final and well deserved position as Regional ECB advisor, George simply stuck to straightforward and honest views.

What you saw and heard was what you got.

Self effacing as many groundsmen are, George always received the brickbats of players and critics of his judgements with the same whimsical good humour.

Good characters like good pitches aren't made in a day. They develop through experience and reflection.

Mr Winkles, 66, who lived in Locks Heath, near Fareham, played for many seasons for Alverstoke as a leg-spinning all-rounder.

When Alverstoke disbanded, George joined Burridge, where he shared in the club's record opening partnership of 238 against Paultons with Peter Tugwell.

He was hugely involved in the development of the club's superbly appointed ground at Botley Road and cherished enormously the recognition bestowed upon him two years ago, when he won the Southern League's Groundsman of the Award.

George, from all of us who benefitted from your wisdom and your friendship, thank you for a job well done.

*** The funeral service is at St John's Church, Locks Heath, on Tuesday 7 August 2001 at 11.30am. It will be followed by a private family cremation.