John Ford obituary by Conrad Sutcliffe

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Player:

EJ Ford

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DateLine: 30th March 2018

 

The death has been announced of the long serving Cornwall Cricket Umpire John Ford (aged 92 years) who enjoyed a lifetime of involvement in Cornish Cricket having made his playing debut for Troon seconds against Falmouth Docks in 1935.

 

A tall seam bowler he played club cricket for Troon and Redruth and went on to become Redruth’s groundsman at Trewirgie before turning to umpiring in 1971. He was appointed to the Minor Counties panel and officiated championship games between 1981 and 1984.

 

He became the CCUA Treasurer in 1986 and the following year was elected as its Secretary, a post he was to hold for 17 years before succeeding Gerald Penberthy as the Association President in 2001. He retired in 2012 and in recognition of his long service the ECBACO awarded him a special 40 years commemorative tie, which was presented by the Regional Chairman Tony Hemmings.

 

John also represented the Umpires on the Cornwall Cricket League’s Western Sectional Committee from 1990 to its amalgamation with the East in 2000.

 

He had joined the full countywide League Management Committee when it first included a CCUA Rep in 1995 and served until 2004 and was made a League Vice-President on stepping down from the LMC.