Cricket legend was such a hit

Date published: 06 May 2014


A LOCAL cricketer who once made national headlines by hitting six sixes in an over died shortly before a day staged in his honour.

Yesterday’s charity cricket match between a Royton XI and a Crompton/Milnrow XI was organised at the request of Trevor Lewis’s family, who wanted to raise money for Asbestos Victims Support and Mesothelioma UK.

Mr Lewis (62) died at Dr Kershaw’s Hospice on Saturday, leaving his wife Maureen and daughters Gillian, Heather and Elizabeth, who wanted the match to go ahead.

With Royton club chairman Tony Spence, Mr Lewis had organised sportsmen’s dinners for over 30 years, raising more than £140,000 for sporting facilities at the Paddock.

Mr Spence said: “Trevor really was one of the nicest men you could ever meet — the young lads at this club used to idolise him.

“Many of them played under him when he was second-team captain, including our current captain Denny, and while Trevor was leading the team he hit six sixes in an over against Crompton.”

The match at the Paddock — superbly supported by the local community — featured cricketers who played with and under Mr Lewis at Royton, as well as family members.

The Crompton and Milnrow combined team was led by Trevor’s son-in-law Carl Taylor, a former captain at Crompton and still an integral part of the first team at Glebe Street.

The match was officiated by former Test-match umpire John Holder - a life member at Royton - John Hampson and John Abrahams, the former Lancashire cricketer.

Yesterday’s fun day was preceded by a minute’s applause, while a minute’s silence was observed before Sunday’s home Lake Garage CLL match against Norden.

Royton officials hoped to raise thousands of pounds for the two charities.

As a cricketer in the CLL, Mr Lewis played for Royton, Crompton, Milnrow, Castleton Moor and Werneth, though Royton was the club closest to his heart. Mr Lewis was a talented teenage footballer who spent time on Oldham Athletic’s books.

Carl Taylor, who is married to Mr Lewis’s daughter, Gillian, said: “Trevor was always the first person I rang after a game at Crompton. Everybody loved Trevor. He was one of the nicest people you would meet and was very funny, too.”