BOB WELTON: BRIGG BLOG'S TRIBUTE TO STALWART OF LINCOLNSHIRE CRICKET

Brigg Blog was very sad to be informed of the death of Bob Welton who lived locally and contributed a huge amount to Lincolnshire cricket over many decades.
He served as a senior official of the Lincolnshire County Cricket League - in which Brigg, Broughton and Hibaldstow have teams - for the best part of 30 years, initially as vice-chairman but mainly as chairman.
An accurate and wicket-taking bowler of note with many clubs, Bob was good enough to play league cricket into his 60s.
Many will also remember him as someone who worked tirelessly to ensure that organised cricket was available for people of varying abilities to enjoy across the different divisions.
As chairman, he set himself the testing target of visiting every member club's ground at least once a season to watch them in action and also to gauge the opinion of players and officials on various topics relating to the league.
He organised the annual showpiece dinners - usually booking former Test cricketers as speakers - and made a point of welcoming, in person, those supporting these functions as they arrived at the venue. He also compiled and edited the league's handbook.
As a very 'hands on' chairman, Bob involved himself in all aspects of running this large league with well over 40 teams. He officiated at knockout cup finals and presented the trophies, dealt with hundreds of player registrations, chaired disciplinary hearings, and liaised with the suppliers of match balls bought in bulk by the league on behalf of clubs.
He also served on a number of committees and groups involving officials of other leagues and the county cricket board.
On a personal level, we served alongside Bob for 19 years on the Lincs League's management committee.
He will be remembered for his strong leadership - always sticking to the path he believed was right for the league but often stressing at meetings that the clubs collectively made the rules to be administered by officials serving on the management committee.
Although not a Brigg resident, Bob often made several visits a week to the town and could often be seen discussing sporting topics with people who stopped him for a chat. He was well known in Brigg.
His son, Guy, played county cricket for Nottinghamshire as an opening batsman.
Bob died yesterday (Saturday, January 9) and the funeral arrangements will be announced in due course.

PICTURED: Bob Welton wearing his Lincolnshire jacket and tie at a function; watching Brigg Town Cricket Club in action at the Recreation Ground, from the boundary, a couple of seasons ago; and welcoming guest speaker Angus Fraser, the former England Test player, to the league's annual dinner held at Hemswell Court, near Caenby Corner, in March 2018.