UPDATED: PETER BAILEY: SOUTHPORT & BIRKDALE CC

Date: 8th June 2018

A tribute from Tony Elwood, S&B's Chair:

Peter Bailey's funeral will take place at Southport Crematorium, 161 Southport Road, Scarisbrick, Southport PR8 5JQ on Monday next, 11th June at 11.20 a.m., then afterwards back at the Club.

"Members of Southport & Birkdale Cricket Club are struggling to come to terms with the sudden death of long serving former groundsman Peter Bailey.

Peter, who spent 33 years with the Club before retiring at the end of the 2015 season, passed away suddenly but peacefully in the early hours of Friday morning.

He had joined S&B from the Old Trafford ground staff in 1982 and oversaw some 20 County matches during his tenure at Trafalgar Road.

Popular with both home and visiting teams, Peter had become very much part of the furniture by the time that he retired. He worked extremely long hours, but always cycled home for lunch! He was elected as an honorary life member of the Club following his retirement.

Paying tribute before Saturday's 1st XI fixture with Liverpool, S&B chairman Tony Elwood said the Club owed Peter a huge debt of gratitude, not only for the 33 years he spent as groundsman, but for the fact that he continued to serve in a voluntary capacity following his retirement. Club members, both teams and the spectators observed a minute's silence before the start of play, with the players wearing black armbands in tribute.

Peter leaves a wife Norma, two sons and a daughter and the funeral details will be posted here when known.

Tony Elwood "