Harry Hoyle with the Sir Leonard Hutton Trophy he won in 1985

Spen Victoria is mourning the death of club stalwart Harry Hoyle who died on Monday.

Harry, 85, was the club's greatest servant giving 70 years service to the club he loved.

He served as player, secretary, treasurer, chairman, president and groundsman.

He also carried out the role of gateman for many years and was widely known and respected in Bradford League circles.

As a youngster he lived near to Spen Lane and spent many hours practising his batting and bowling on the club's ground.

When he was old enough he performed the role of tinner to the club's scorer Ernest Carter.

It wasn't long before he established himself as a player of considerable ability.

That was demonstrated in 1952 when he was second in the Bradford League bowling averages to Lidget Green's Wilf Copson.

His 30 wickets came at 12.33 runs apiece which was a considerable achievement in a season when the top three batsmen in the averages were Wilf Horner (Warwickshire), Ray Illingworth (Yorkshire) and Roy Booth (Warwickshire).

He became captain in 1957 and 1958 and ten years later was skipper of the second team when they won the Division Two title.

In 1985 he won the Bradford League's highest award, the Sir Leonard Hutton trophy, in 1985 for services to the league.

After spells as cricket chairman, secretary, treasurer, president and groundsman, he stood down in 2003 as received a special Life Time Achievement Award run by the The News of Dewsbury.

Fittingly it was presented by Solly Adam, skipper of the Spen side that won the Priestley Cup in 1990.

In recent years he still served as a gateman and always greeted visitors with his usual cheery smile.

Club president George Debenham said: "Our thoughts are with Harry's wife Hazel and his daughter Judith at this sad time.

"The club has lost a wonderful servant. I will be 65 shortly and as long as I can remember Harry Hoyle has always been there.

"It is a huge loss for Spen Victoria. Harry was a wonderful servant. He loved the club and the club loved him. He did so much."

Harry's funeral service will be at Dewsbury Crematorium on Friday at noon. Afterwards there will be refreshments in the clubhouse.

Harry and Hazel Hoyle with Solly Adam