Whitkirk Cricket Club is sad to report the death of Don Ashworth at the age of 87 in Paignton, Devon.

Don was a stalwart of the club, returning after war service in the Royal Navy, playing in the second team and subsequently the first eleven. He was a hard‑hitting batsman who captained the first team very successfully and spent much time developing the Club's younger players in the U18 team – the only junior side the club ran at that time and which included both his sons, Graham and Ian.

In the book on Yorkshire's championship winning team of the 1960s, Brian Bolus pays tribute to the major part Whitkirk played in his cricket development and mentions Don (and Len Bannister) in
particular.

Don's off-field activities on behalf of the club were many and varied. He held the positions of Treasurer and Assistant Secretary and was a vociferous committee member during his playing days. When the club found itself without a groundsman during the 1960s, Don managed to combine that role with the 2nd XI captaincy which he had taken on when he retired from first
team cricket.

Although he moved away from Whitkirk, when Lord Halifax's long service as a sleeping President came to an end in the early 1980s he became the first of a new kind of active President, rather than simply having a continuing interest in the club. He picked up the reigns, becoming involved and keen to play his part in the progress of the club, including the introduction of the President's invitation match – and the loan of his motorised scarifier when work was needed on the square!

He stepped down from the Presidency on his retirement and with his wife Nan, moved to the sunnier climes of South Devon where he lived until his passing on 12 September 2012.

Our condolences go to Nan, Graham and Ian for the happy memories which all who knew him have of Don and from those younger members that didn't, all that he did for Whitkirk Cricket Club over so many years.