   |
|
Home 2003 Season 2002 Season News Photo Gallery Club Directory Umpires SPCL Umpire Appointments Rules/ Accreditation Officials SEC Cup Awards Statistics Links |
|
|
George Winkles - his former club remembers
Richard Bundy - Chairman Burridge Cricket Club - 6 August 2001
George Winkles is a very special and treasured person within the Burridge Community, to be sat here writing his obituary greatly saddens me, for this was a gentleman in the prime of his life, with so very much to offer, who put back into cricket far more than he took out as a player.
George joined Burridge in 1983 when the club was a mid table Hampshire League South East 1 club playing on a Council field with 2 Saturday sides. At the time of his unfortunate and premature death, Burridge reside in Southern Premier 1 and have 4 Saturday sides, and one of the top pitches in Hampshire. All of which are achievements that without George, would have been almost impossible.
The intervening 18 years has seen George play a variety of roles within the club, from opening batsman, where he still holds with Pete Tugwell the club record opening partnership of 236 against Paultons, a more than useful offspin bowler, Colts manager for 4 years and Secretary for 4 years, but the legacy he leaves behind is of the untold hours he has put into our cricket field to make what was 15 years ago a farmers field into a superb cricket facility.
George was the secretary when the opportunity to develop the ground arose and he was at the forefront as the levelling and laying of the square took place volunteering to take control of the maintenance of the square from the start, learning as he went along about the many intricacies of cricket square maintenance, of grasses, pests and diseases. George was a man who was always prepared to pass on his knowledge to any one who asked his advice.
As people took notice of the growing reputation of the Burridge wicket, (winning the HCL ground of the year in 1996 and the Southern League Groundsman in 1999) so George was in demand, subsequently he joined the Hampshire League committee in 1993, and the Southern League in 1997 helping to set up the ground accreditation sub committee , and in 1999 when the Premier League was set up he advised on ground standards. He did over the past few years win many awards for the standard of the pitch, however he was always humble in receiving the credit that was so desperately deserved.
His efforts within Hampshire didn't go unnoticed at national level when in 1999 it was decided by the English Cricket board to set up a panel of pitch advisors to cover the country George was invited to become one of the initial group of 16, covering the central southern region. This was a great honour to bestow upon anyone, and George attacked this challenge as he did with anything else within his life.
George was, and always will be a treasured and true friend to all of those who through the years were lucky enough to encounter him, he was funny with the ability to make anyone smile with a simple comment.
It has been my privilege to have known George, and I know that I am not alone in that thinking, all those people who were lucky enough to encounter this extraordinary person were honoured.
George Winkles will remain forever our true friend, and will remain in our thoughts and hearts forever.
© SPCL
| Teams | England. |
| Tournaments | Southern Premier League |
| Season | English Domestic Season |