David Lupton, a popular Cumbrian cricketer, has died just days after his 75th birthday.
Luppy played for his home-town club Millom and represented Cumberland in 48 Minor Counties fixtures between 1975 and 1985, as well as in four MCCA Trophy matches.
In the Championship he took 146 wickets at 24.22 with best figures of 8-50. His highest score as a tail-ender was 69.
He appeared for Cumberland in the 1985 NatWest Trophy game with Derbyshire taking the wicket of Kim Barnett, after the England international batsman had earlier dismissed him with his leg breaks for nought.
Luppy was in the Millom first team as a teenager and grew into one of the most respected bowlers in the North Lancashire League.
Former team-mate Peter Brockbank said: “He had particularly long arms, so that he almost touched the ground in his action but he was very accurate and got bounce with his deliveries.
“I remember one particular game with Workington they were 8-0 and then 8 all out. ‘Dinger’ Bell took 5-3 and Luppy had 5-5.
“He had a spell away from Millom when he was pro at Kendal but after a few years he was back to finish his career at Millom where he was a true legend.”
Tributes have poured in from former team-mates and opponents, who regarded ‘Luppy’ as an outstanding fast bowler and also a gentleman.
Former Surrey and Cumberland all-rounder Graham Monkhouse said: “Very sad news. A fine opponent and a valued team-mate. RIP old boy.”
Dominic Chambers of Whitehaven said: “Very, very sad news. As a young lad to face Loppy was like playing against a giant, both physically and his reputation within the game but I found out quickly he was also a gentleman.”
Colin Knight of Lindal said: “Luppy was one of the best, always took time to have a chat and a pint after the game and after he’d given me a real tough time facing him. Lovely bloke, true gent.”
Eric Field of Workington said: “Absolutely gutted. Honour to play against him and later in the same team as him. Nothing was ever too much troubler to him and always willing to help you in any way.”
Scores of other team-mates and rivals on the field were all unanimous in their praise of “an outstanding cricketer, but most of all a great bloke.”
An outstanding servant on and off the field to the Millom club, a tribute will be paid at this afternoon’s Cumbria League game at home to Cleator.
A former Sellafield employee during his working days, he leaves his wife Susan.
