Nick Bacon relaxing with a beer.
Hursley Park has been deeply saddened by the sudden death, aged 71, of Nick Bacon, a prominent batsman/wicketkeeper for the club from the mid-1970s onwards and, since retiring, a valued and active member of the groundstaff at The Quarters.
Nick joined Hursley Park during the mid-1970’s and has continued to be associated with the club ever since. He was a hugely respected history teacher at Hamble Community College for over three decades.
In the early days when HPCC had only two Saturday XI’s, Nick was a prominent member of the second team playing in South West Division II of the Hampshire Cricket League as a wicket keeper and batsman. His enthusiastic, unorthodox style in both these disciplines proved very successful and in 1980 he topped the batting averages for this division. He took a great deal of pride in both his and the team performance.
Nick joined Hursley Park during the mid-1970’s and has continued to be associated with the club ever since. He was a hugely respected history teacher at Hamble Community College for over three decades.
In the early days when HPCC had only two Saturday XI’s, Nick was a prominent member of the second team playing in South West Division II of the Hampshire Cricket League as a wicket keeper and batsman. His enthusiastic, unorthodox style in both these disciplines proved very successful and in 1980 he topped the batting averages for this division. He took a great deal of pride in both his and the team performance.
Opportunities for 1st XI cricket as a wicket keeper were limited in the 1980’s with Paul Wright and Adrian Aymes behind the stumps, and later Martin Kellaway, but when not required as the keeper, Nick played many times as a specialist middle order batsman in the first team. He was part of at least two of the three Park sides that won the First Division of the Hampshire Cricket League in that era.
I was fortunate to be the captain at that time and found Nick to be a very good team man, with impeccable availability, very helpful to the captain when behind the stumps, and a great character both on and off the field.
As a qualified Coach, he coached the junior teams at Hursley Park for many years. This in addition to his commitment to coaching and organising school and association cricket in both Southampton and Winchester.
Nick was a very good club man, and after retiring from playing become a well respected member of the volunteer groundstaff at the club. He was adept at almost any task that he was confronted with, from repairing the drive to preparing and repairing the pitches .
He had a great sense of humour and was a long standing stalwart, good cricketer and willing worker who contributed much to the success of the club. He will be sadly missed by his family and remembered by all those who played and worked along side him. An innings cut far too short. Chris Westbrook.
I was fortunate to be the captain at that time and found Nick to be a very good team man, with impeccable availability, very helpful to the captain when behind the stumps, and a great character both on and off the field.
As a qualified Coach, he coached the junior teams at Hursley Park for many years. This in addition to his commitment to coaching and organising school and association cricket in both Southampton and Winchester.
Nick was a very good club man, and after retiring from playing become a well respected member of the volunteer groundstaff at the club. He was adept at almost any task that he was confronted with, from repairing the drive to preparing and repairing the pitches .
He had a great sense of humour and was a long standing stalwart, good cricketer and willing worker who contributed much to the success of the club. He will be sadly missed by his family and remembered by all those who played and worked along side him. An innings cut far too short. Chris Westbrook.
