HURSLEY Park stalwart Don Crossley, one of the best known faces around the Winchester club cricket scene, has died, aged 83.

In his playing days, Don was a very technically correct left-handed batsman, who spent most of his career playing for Hursley Park.

He later served on the Club’s committee as secretary and fixture secretary, a busy task in those days with league fixtures on Saturdays, Sunday matches, a number of midweek games and the evening league.

Don was born in Blackburn and, because of his formative years watching Lancashire League, he was always a great supporter of league cricket.

He was a well-known character on Hampshire club grounds. He held dear the traditions of the game, but was far removed from being a die-hard supporter, stuck in the past. He had been an advocate of city franchises for some 40 years, long before the advent of t20 cricket.

Don’s interests in the game were wide ranging, including as a player, administrator, historian, collector, and spectator.

He was co-founder of the Cricket Memorabilia Society and became Vice-President. He was an astute collector, always sensitive to the fluctuations in value of various items. His book and autograph collections were extensive.

Don also supported the Cricket Society movement as a whole and always enjoyed meetings of the Hampshire and Dorset societies.

When watching cricket, he invariably wore his Hursley Park sweater. For formal occasions, he would take Sir Leonard Hutton’s England blazer from his wardrobe.