Obituary: Tom Jones, BEM (21 February 1999)

21 February 1999

Obituary: Tom Jones, BEM

Derek Laming

Tom Jones, President of the Merseyside Cricket Competition, having not been in the best of health for some time, died on Wednesday 10th February 1999 aged 84.

He will be remembered not only as one of the greats of recreational cricket in the North West, but as a man who was always prepared to help people in all walks of life.

Tom worked as a company secretary for Price's Chemicals in Bromborough and, after his retirement, worked tirelessly for and on behalf of its pensioners and, with Joan, his wife, involved himself in voluntary work within the community. He was a keen freemason and in this respect did much work for local charities.

He played cricket for many years for Bromborough Pool and held just about every office in that club including making the teas with Joan who, Tom always said, was part of his team. He was a bowler of some repute and played well into his forties as captain of the 2nd XI. He was president of his cricket club and the tea room at Bromborough Pool was named in his honour when it was renovated some years ago. He was a member at other cricket clubs, for example Irby and Birkenhead Park, but the Pool was always his main love.

When he finally hung up his cricket boots, it was no surprise to find him taking the white coat and an equally active part in umpiring and its administration and he became a fully qualified member of the Association of Cricket Umpires in 1973. In this role he was secretary of both the North West Region and the Merseyside Branch becoming joint president of the latter with his cricketing friend of many years standing Frank Maddison. Not content with umpiring, Tom also added scoring to his bow achieving a mark of 99% in the examination.

His contribution to the Merseyside Cricket Competition was quite outstanding. It was as a young man that he saw Bromborough Pool become one of the thirteen founder members and he took over the role of secretary and treasurer of the Competition in 1963 and remained in those posts until ill health caused him to relinquish them in 1997. During his term of office the Competition grew to its current 28 clubs playing in two divisions and it joined the League Cricket Conference in 1974 becoming runners-up in the President's Cup in 1980. He played a major part in organising the representative sides at both the senior and colt level and never missed a game and, at times, scored as well.

Not content with the Competition he was also involved in school's cricket at all age groups for both the Wirral and Cheshire. He became president of the Competition in 1991 and an honorary life member of the League Cricket Conference in 1995. His contribution to both cricket and the community was recognised, nationally, in the award of the British Empire Medal in 1990.

The honours invested in Tom were richly deserved for he stood for patience, honesty, integrity and all the other good things in life - a true cricketer if ever there was one!

Our thoughts and feelings of condolence are with his wife Joan and family. Tom will be sadly missed by us all but he will certainly not be forgotten.

Source :: CricInfo365