GARY Whitbread, the chairman of Huntingdonshire County Cricket Club, has died at the age of 53.

GARY Whitbread, the chairman of Huntingdonshire County Cricket Club, has died at the age of 53.

Mr Whitbread, of Potton Road, Eynesbury, was a well-known sporting figure in the district, having played cricket for Huntingdonshire, Papworth and Kimbolton, and football for Eynesbury Rovers.

He died at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge on Monday after a three-month illness.

He leaves his wife Tammy, son Ben, 25, and daughter Abbie, 23. He also had two grandchildren, two-year-old Finley and four-month-old Niamh.

Abbie paid tribute to her father as “an amazing guy.”

“He was someone who always worried about others, never himself. He was a wonderful husband to my mother, and a fantastic father and grandfather. He was just a wonderful, conscientious, loving man.”

Kevin Clement of Huntingdonshire County Cricket Club, who had known Mr Whitbread for over 20 years, said he was a popular man.

“His approach to cricket was to do his absolute best and enjoy the experience,” said Mr Clement.

“A kind and gregarious man, he loved the camaraderie of the game and his wit and friendship will be missed by all those who knew him. He really was a good people person.”

Born in Huntingdon in 1957, Mr Whitbread played his formative cricket with his father at Hatley before making his name as a wicketkeeper with Huntingdon, and making six Minor County appearances for Cambridgeshire.

His long association with Huntingdonshire cricket began with county schools cricket, before going on to play for the full county side on 64 occasions between 1979 and 2002.

Off the field, Gary had a very successful stint as HCCC Match Manager and had been the chairman of HCCC for the past five years.