LEN HACKETT 1939-2020

Date: 10th February 2020

A highly respected and longstanding member of Lytham Cricket and Sports Club has died at the age of 79.

Lytham Cricket Club’s Chairman Len Hackett passed away peacefully on Friday evening after a short illness.

"Len will be desperately missed by all at Lytham Cricket and Sports Club and no doubt by all cricketers and officials whose paths he crossed during his lifetime around the North West and especially the Fylde Coast, where he helped shape the lives of many budding cricketers. He served Lytham CC for the past 20 years, sitting on the club’s cricket committee throughout all his time at Church Road and had been chairman for the last eight seasons.

Up until a couple of summers ago he was also a permanent fixture umpiring both our 2nd and 3rd X1's as well as officiating many midweek junior matches .

We will all greatly miss his warmth and wise words about cricket matters and life in general."

Anthony Mulligan

Lytham Cricket Club celebrates the life of Len Hackett 1940-2020

"Len Hackett, chairman, umpire, scorer and lifetime member died on Friday 31st January 2020 after a brief illness.

The former Bolton School pupil lived on the Fylde coast for more than 45 years and was widely known and respected in cricketing circles across the North West.

Len was born in Edgeworth, Bolton, during the Second World War and was ‘cricket mad’ from a young age. His mother made teas at Edgeworth Cricket Club and his uncles were umpires and a groundsman. As a pupil, he was coached by two Lancashire stalwarts, Wilf Place and Jack Ikin.

Len moved to the Fylde coast after his parents retired to Blackpool. He audited the accounts of businesses owned by the founders of South Shore Cricket Club, Alderman AE Stuart and Bernard Hope, and went on to bowl off-spin for the club in the Palace Shield Cricket Competition for 20 years until retiring to become an umpire.

Len moved to Lytham CC in 2001 and was still umpiring junior matches until 2017.

Over the years, he umpired hundreds of games in the Liverpool and District Competition and the Palace Shield.

Almost a permanent fixture at the Church Road club throughout the cricket season, he was also a dedicated supporter, travelling far and wide across the North West watching and guiding generations of young players.

In 2008, he wrote an article in the club year book and described how he especially enjoyed umpiring the junior matches - ‘junior players were such a constant delight to umpire in their many matches’.

Off the field, Len also played a vital role in the day-to-day running of the cricket section and represented Lytham CC at district and league level.

He was chairman of the cricket section and as a member of the executive committee, he performed many roles and duties including treasurer, senior selection as well as sharing his vast experience and knowledge with club coaches.

Len was also a familiar face at all the club’s social gatherings including the fundraising balls, New Year celebrations, T20 events and presentation evenings

Susan Chiekrie, Secretary of Lytham Cricket Club, said: “Len was a huge part of Lytham Cricket Club and has been a big influence over the years to so many young cricketers growing up."