CRICKETERS at Newent have paid tribute to the man who was the heart and soul of their club for nearly 70 years.

Charles Hanby, who was the president of Newent Cricket Club, died earlier this month at the age of 91.

He began playing for the club just after the 1939-45 war and his virtual single-handed endeavours kept a team going throughout the 1950s and 60s.

Club chairman Richard Martin said: "Without Charles's drive, enthusiasm and love of the game we would not be playing cricket at Newent today."

Many weeks it was a struggle to get 11 players to turn out for the friendly games played by the club in those days.

After doing the chores on his Hartpury farm, Charles would bundle his young son Chris and the teas into his pickup and go and round up 11 players – after cutting and marking the pitch, then in the town's Watery Lane.

For more on this story, read The Forester.