Madam, I have long enjoyed the game of cricket since my early days when, as a school boy in the early 1950s, I operated the score board at Monmouth Cricket Club and then became the club scorer.

In those days all games were played as friendly fixtures before the advent of league cricket. It was then that I first had the pleasure of watching the batting skills of the late Don West when Ross played Monmouth.

Don was without doubt one of the finest batsman seen in local cricket. He had the supreme skill of always having so much time to play the ball. His ability to caress the ball to the boundary diverting fielders, the ball seldom hit in the air or with what appeared to be great force, such was his pure timing.

In addition to his batting skills he also kept wicket to a high standard and, although I never witnessed this, I believe he was also a very fine footballer.

When I moved to live in Ross and eventually joined Ross Cricket Club, I played a number of sessions with Don and we both played our final cricketing years with Goodrich.

He was the most modest of men, a true sporting gentleman, enjoying the sports he played and playing them in the spirit of the game and always willing to talk to and help aspiring young players.

We who have been lucky enough to have known Don and watched those great skills retain those enjoyable memories and moments.

Ian Nicholls