Cricket mourns death of local hero Len

CRICKET was his passion . . . Len Jump

A FORMER chairman of Oldham Cricket Club who was instrumental in signing two West Indies cricketers to the club has died.

Leonard Jump, known as Len, died on Friday at the Chesterfield Royal Hospital from pneumonia. He was 61.

Born in Limeside, in 1948, Mr Jump worked for the Post Office but the keen batsman was passionate about cricket.

Mr Jump was at Moorside Cricket Club in the late 1960s before joining Oldham Cricket club as a player in 1977 and then becoming chairman in 1981.

His wife Helen said: “Len originally started work as a postman but cricket was always a big part of his life.

“He had the opportunity to get a desk job early on in his career, but he wouldn’t because in those days you had to work Saturdays which would affect his cricket.

“It was only when half-day Saturdays were introduced that he took a desk job at the counter in the main office in Oldham.

“Len played for Oldham Cricket Club but as soon as he stopped playing, he joined the committee and put himself forward as chairman.

“During that time, the team was very successful and he was instrumental in getting some quite famous players to be professionals on the team, such as West Indies internationals Larry Gomes and Franklyn Stephenson.

“That was always a source of pride for him.”

Mr Jump stepped down as chairman 23 years ago when he moved to Chesterfield for work reasons, but remained a trustee at the club until two years ago.

He retired from the post office as a senior manager in 2000 and spent his retirement travelling the world with Helen, often with cricket in mind.

For his 50th birthday, he enjoyed a party at Queensland cricket ground in Australia which was attended by John Buchanan, former professional player at Oldham Cricket Club and former coach to Australia’s national cricket team.

Mrs Jump said: “Len was funny, very kind and generous with a dry sense of humour.

“He could rub people up the wrong way just by giving them a look over his glasses, but he was very well respected by people who knew him.”

He is survived by his two children and grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held on Monday at St Peter’s Church, Holymoorside, Chesterfield, at 2pm followed by committal at Chesterfield Crematorium.