GEOFF OWEN: HUNDREDS BID 'FAREWELL' TO CRICKET LEGEND

Local cricket has said an emotional farewell to Havant and Hampshire Seniors cricketer Geoff Owen, who died recently after a long and courageous battle against cancer, aged 69.  Approaching 500 friends, former team-mates and workmates from his days in education crammed into the Havant Crematorium to hear moving family tributes and superbly crafted and polished cricketing eulogies from long-term Havant colleague Robin Sykes and respected Hampshire Seniors chairman John Rickard, who reflected on a remarkable career in which Geoff had scored a phenomenal 33,000 runs for Havant alone, plus another 5,000 or more for the Seniors.  Away from cricket, Geoff had been a very decent Western League footballer and played first team hockey for Havant.  As a schoolteacher, he was massively respected, with many pupils from decades ago penning their tributes to their one-time mentor.  Monday's hour-long service was a fitting farewell to one of the region's top sportsmen, whose memory will live on for many years