Friends and team-mates gather at Bradninch on Sunday to remember Simon Bailey

SIMON Bailey’s friends and former Bradninch team-mates will be bidding their final farewells to him at a ceremony on the ground on Sunday.

They will be gathering for the interment of his ashes on he ground Bailey loved followed by a celebratory cricket tea afterwards.

Bailey, who died earlier this year of a degenerative brain condition aged 56, joined Bradninch in 1982 when he was on a placement at a paper mill in Silverton as part of his degree course at Sheffield University.

After the placement and the course ended, Bailey stayed on in Devon, working for the University of Exeter, Reuters in Tiverton and Devon County Council before starting his own company in 2011.

Simon Bailey was a Yorkshire man through and through. His father Herbert and both grandparents were from cricket-mad families.

Dad Herbert and his brothers Jack and Sydney were named after the famous 20-30s cricketers Herbert Sutcliffe, Jack Hobbs and S F (Sydney) Barnes.

It was no surprise Bailey took up and excelled at cricket from an early age. He captained his school teams, including the prestigious Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Wakefield, and played for Glasshoughton Cricket Club in Castleford, before going to university and later moving to Devon.

Bailey played for Bradninch for more than 25 years and after retiring as a player took up umpiring.

As club captain 1985-1990, Bailey led by example, achieving the magical 1,000 runs and 50 wickets in a season along the way.

Being part of the side that won a series of promotions to reach the Devon League Premier Division in 2009 was testament to his longevity on the playing side.

Bailey scored more than 10,000 runs and claimed in excess of 500 wickets playing for Bradninch.

Such was his passion for cricket he could often be found turning out for Coaver CC in the then midweek league and for any other local club that had a game on and needed a player – but only ever if his beloved Bradninch were not in action.

Derrick Foan, for many years a team-mates of Bailey’s and now the club chairman, said his friend would be remembered with fondness by the cricket community.

He added: “In later years Simon was a great supporter of all things Bradninch CCC and, even when the clouds and fogginess of a horribly debilitating illness began to descend, he still battled on to either umpire for the 2nd XI in league games or help out wherever he could.

“There are not too many folk in the modern game as keen as our Simon was in terms of getting his hands dirty in the club’s cause.

“By dirty we mean every aspect of club life, be that scoring winning runs, taking vital wickets, holding stunning catches, umpiring, scoring, helping with tea preparation, clearing up and washing up post tea, bar duties, scrubbing the dressing rooms. 

“In every sense of the three words, Simon was a true cricket clubman.”

Sunday’s ceremony, not a service in any religious sense, is being led by Rob Gitsham.

Family and friends from Yorkshire, where Bailey spent the last few years of his life, will be taking part.

“It is hoped as many folk as possible both with a link to the cricket club and, of course, Simon will come along and join us for a special occasion at which Simon will be so fondly remembered,” said Gitsham.

Start time at Kensham Park is 11.30am.