Vic Loveless has declared his long innings closed and will raise his bat for the very last time at Bramshaw Church on Thursday at 12.15pm.
The doyen of New Forest cricket, Vic passed away recently, aged 93 years.
The ultimate gentleman, his involvement in Hampshire and New Forest cricket was both visionary and extra-ordinary in equal measure.
He brought about profound changes for a conservative man.
A proud, much liked and respected nonagenarian, Vic had been a family man, a sportsman, a sports organiser and administrator, a successful businessman, an author, a writer, and a proud Brit and loyal servant of the Crown as a Royal Marine in War time. He crammed a lot into his 93 years.
A man whose dedication to cricket and passion for the game is unsurpassed – his warm, but fiercely strong handshake never to be forgotten!
Vic has left an indelible impression on the Hampshire and New Forest cricket landscape.
A stalwart of the Calmore Sports Club for many years, both pre- and post-war, Vic Loveless was Calmore Sports Club and along with his great colleagues and friends of that era he achieved much.
He played for many decades as an opening bowler and stubborn middle-order batsman. At 6’3”, his ‘windmill’ bowling action made him a hostile opponent.
The club’s secretary during the 1950s, Vic was instrumental in the planning and completion of the Calmore ground at Loperwood.
The doyen of New Forest cricket, Vic passed away recently, aged 93 years.
The ultimate gentleman, his involvement in Hampshire and New Forest cricket was both visionary and extra-ordinary in equal measure.
He brought about profound changes for a conservative man.
A proud, much liked and respected nonagenarian, Vic had been a family man, a sportsman, a sports organiser and administrator, a successful businessman, an author, a writer, and a proud Brit and loyal servant of the Crown as a Royal Marine in War time. He crammed a lot into his 93 years.
A man whose dedication to cricket and passion for the game is unsurpassed – his warm, but fiercely strong handshake never to be forgotten!
Vic has left an indelible impression on the Hampshire and New Forest cricket landscape.
A stalwart of the Calmore Sports Club for many years, both pre- and post-war, Vic Loveless was Calmore Sports Club and along with his great colleagues and friends of that era he achieved much.
He played for many decades as an opening bowler and stubborn middle-order batsman. At 6’3”, his ‘windmill’ bowling action made him a hostile opponent.
The club’s secretary during the 1950s, Vic was instrumental in the planning and completion of the Calmore ground at Loperwood.
Vic's Calmore Wanderers team
He later set up the Calmore Wanderers, for veteran players who played their matches at Landford, near his home.
Vic was the main force in the creation of the New Forest Cricket Club Association in 1963, and was chairman for many decades.
He excelled as an administrator and was the public face of the association.
Vic established formal NFCCA coaching with John Stimson, Bill Fielder and Harry Penk, and the vibrant junior wing of New Forest cricket (NFJCA).
It’s a testament to his vision in the mid-1960’s that there are now over 60 young age group teams turning out each week throughout the summer and all his sons and grandsons have been in that pipeline.
Vic was a formidable presence at the helm dealing with issues such as doing a Presentment at the Verderers Court at Lyndhurst to reach a compromise for the New Forest village clubs in not opening up their squares and pitches for animal grazing during the winter.
Under his leadership, the association grew from strength to strength, with 50 or more clubs, participating in the New Forest Leagues until its integration with the Hampshire League as part of the pyramid structure of Southern and Hampshire leagues that Vic was instrumental in bringing about in 1992.
He compiled the Association’s handbook each year and in 2007 published a fully illustrated book, entitled The New Forest & Its Cricketers, a thoroughly absorbing and fascinating read.
Vic was still the President of the NFCCA and a Hampshire Cricket League Vice President until his passing.
Vic was the main force in the creation of the New Forest Cricket Club Association in 1963, and was chairman for many decades.
He excelled as an administrator and was the public face of the association.
Vic established formal NFCCA coaching with John Stimson, Bill Fielder and Harry Penk, and the vibrant junior wing of New Forest cricket (NFJCA).
It’s a testament to his vision in the mid-1960’s that there are now over 60 young age group teams turning out each week throughout the summer and all his sons and grandsons have been in that pipeline.
Vic was a formidable presence at the helm dealing with issues such as doing a Presentment at the Verderers Court at Lyndhurst to reach a compromise for the New Forest village clubs in not opening up their squares and pitches for animal grazing during the winter.
Under his leadership, the association grew from strength to strength, with 50 or more clubs, participating in the New Forest Leagues until its integration with the Hampshire League as part of the pyramid structure of Southern and Hampshire leagues that Vic was instrumental in bringing about in 1992.
He compiled the Association’s handbook each year and in 2007 published a fully illustrated book, entitled The New Forest & Its Cricketers, a thoroughly absorbing and fascinating read.
Vic was still the President of the NFCCA and a Hampshire Cricket League Vice President until his passing.
Vic (right) pictured with Yorkshire & England fast bowling legend Fred Trueman at a New Forest CCA Dinner in Beaulieu.
Vic was also chairman of Nomansland for two decades driving the club forwards on the pavilion building.
All of his sons, Ian, Roger and Gary have all played for many years for the club, which merged with Bramshaw three seasons ago.
The family connection continues there, with Gary still the Captain of the second team and Ian the third elevens until 2017, and most of his grandsons have or are playing for the local clubs – Carl, Jonty, Bailey, James, Tommy and Declan. Three other grandsons Baden, Winston and Denning also play Colts cricket for Lymington.
He was a great man and someone who has done more for cricket than can be measured.
He deserves all the plaudits he receives as he was a positive force for cricket and junior colts cricket long before the coloured kit came into vogue.
Thank you, Vic from a grateful nation and his cricket family.
Vic Loveless : Family man, Military career and businessman
Vic was born in Totton on March 10 1925, just seven years after the First World War and was married 30 years later to Mary (nee Doe). He had six children, three boys, three girls. A wonderful husband, dad, grandad, great grandad, friend and team mate to many, he leaves quite a legacy. A great man but none of it was possible without his amazing wife Mary !
He joined the Royal Marines at 18 in the war time call up in 1943, operating on board SS Bounteous as Signaller against enemy operations from Barry Docks and then in the elite 34th Amphibious Support Regiment in South East Asia and India.
One of the largest men in the unit, he was tasked with being the Bren gun carrier : it was a very heavy weapon.
Stationed in Madhi Island [October 1944] an island off the coast of northern Mumbai, a staging post before defending The ‘Gateway to India’ as the ‘Bombay Riots’ ensued to protect the port and other key government facilities.
Vic left the Marines in June 1946 to return to civilian life and worked for 15 years as Branch Manager for Royal Mail Lines, one of the largest shipping companies to work out of the Port of Southampton.
He was then a Director of Brimleys, a marine electrical business near the town quay, and then teamed up with his cricketing friends Brian Hobby, Richard White at Brimac, and then again at Grist including Grist Business Services with Colin Coxon.
Reflections of Brian Hobby, business associate and cricketing friend
Vic was my dear friend and colleague over some 55 years. He was a man who throughout his long life acted with integrity, loyalty and honour in the truest definition of the words.
In every task he set himself he always gave his all whether that be in business, his love of the great game of cricket, or in matters of day to day living.
His vision and innovation were formative in organising youth, adult and senior cricket in the New Forest and near areas.
He became Chairman and President of many New Forest Associations, and in business a Director of a substantial group of companies, over some 25 years.
His approach to business was of discipline, integrity and hard work and he led by example. This commanded significant respect from employees, colleagues and clients.
By nature he was truly British, and quietly proud that he had served as a Royal Marine in both the Far East and India for King and country. He was modestly reticent about his actual experiences and contributions in the Services, as were many men of that era.
Above all, his love and pride in his not inconsiderable family was always centre stage in his affections.
Thinking of this universally popular man’s legacy, I think the saying, “It’s not cricket” of anything remotely unfair, summed up his love of honesty and fair play. Cricket was a very large and much enjoyed part of his life.
All of his sons, Ian, Roger and Gary have all played for many years for the club, which merged with Bramshaw three seasons ago.
The family connection continues there, with Gary still the Captain of the second team and Ian the third elevens until 2017, and most of his grandsons have or are playing for the local clubs – Carl, Jonty, Bailey, James, Tommy and Declan. Three other grandsons Baden, Winston and Denning also play Colts cricket for Lymington.
He was a great man and someone who has done more for cricket than can be measured.
He deserves all the plaudits he receives as he was a positive force for cricket and junior colts cricket long before the coloured kit came into vogue.
Thank you, Vic from a grateful nation and his cricket family.
Vic Loveless : Family man, Military career and businessman
Vic was born in Totton on March 10 1925, just seven years after the First World War and was married 30 years later to Mary (nee Doe). He had six children, three boys, three girls. A wonderful husband, dad, grandad, great grandad, friend and team mate to many, he leaves quite a legacy. A great man but none of it was possible without his amazing wife Mary !
He joined the Royal Marines at 18 in the war time call up in 1943, operating on board SS Bounteous as Signaller against enemy operations from Barry Docks and then in the elite 34th Amphibious Support Regiment in South East Asia and India.
One of the largest men in the unit, he was tasked with being the Bren gun carrier : it was a very heavy weapon.
Stationed in Madhi Island [October 1944] an island off the coast of northern Mumbai, a staging post before defending The ‘Gateway to India’ as the ‘Bombay Riots’ ensued to protect the port and other key government facilities.
Vic left the Marines in June 1946 to return to civilian life and worked for 15 years as Branch Manager for Royal Mail Lines, one of the largest shipping companies to work out of the Port of Southampton.
He was then a Director of Brimleys, a marine electrical business near the town quay, and then teamed up with his cricketing friends Brian Hobby, Richard White at Brimac, and then again at Grist including Grist Business Services with Colin Coxon.
Reflections of Brian Hobby, business associate and cricketing friend
Vic was my dear friend and colleague over some 55 years. He was a man who throughout his long life acted with integrity, loyalty and honour in the truest definition of the words.
In every task he set himself he always gave his all whether that be in business, his love of the great game of cricket, or in matters of day to day living.
His vision and innovation were formative in organising youth, adult and senior cricket in the New Forest and near areas.
He became Chairman and President of many New Forest Associations, and in business a Director of a substantial group of companies, over some 25 years.
His approach to business was of discipline, integrity and hard work and he led by example. This commanded significant respect from employees, colleagues and clients.
By nature he was truly British, and quietly proud that he had served as a Royal Marine in both the Far East and India for King and country. He was modestly reticent about his actual experiences and contributions in the Services, as were many men of that era.
Above all, his love and pride in his not inconsiderable family was always centre stage in his affections.
Thinking of this universally popular man’s legacy, I think the saying, “It’s not cricket” of anything remotely unfair, summed up his love of honesty and fair play. Cricket was a very large and much enjoyed part of his life.
Vic Loveless : 1925-2018
