Jack Highley by Nigel Stockley

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Player:

J Highley

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DateLine: 4th January 2013

 

Todmorden stalwart, Jack Highley, has passed away suddenly at the age of 59.

Jack was member of the club all his life having been there as a wonderful worker on the ground having helped in all capacities as well as being a truly respected player at both 1st and 2nd team levels.

Heart felt condolences go out to his wife Sandra and his sons John and Neil.

 

The funeral is at St Mary's Church Todmorden on Friday 18th January at 1.30pm.

 

Cricket Historian Brian Heywood paid this tribute to his former colleague:

Jack had trials for Yorkshire as a left arm spinner in his youth, when he bowled with good flight and drifted the ball into right hander.

 

He made his Todmorden first team debut as a left arm spinner in 1973 at the age of 19.

 

His batting improved and in his late 20s he took up wicketkeeping, playing many years in the second team as an effective batsman-wicketkeeper.

 

He was a very capable substitute for David Whitehead when Todmorden's first team keeper was unavailable and he achieved a collection for taking five catches, all off a rampant Rod Estwick, against Church at Centre Vale in 1984.

 

A builder by trade, Jack devoted his skills voluntarily to building Centre Vale's scorebox/tackleshed and flat after the old tackle shed burnt down in 1990.

 

As recently as last summer he helped to pave a new eating out area adjacent to the red brick tea pavilion, in readiness for that building's centenary this season.

 

As well as a committed colleague, Jack's teammates will always remember him for his hilarious one liners - the quickest wit any of us will ever meet.

 

No one escaped and the dressing room was frequently reduced to tears, but there was no malice.

 

You just had the joy and great fortune to be playing cricket and spending your afternoon with a truly extraordinary comedian.