John Moyes, a former Cumberland cricket captain, has died at the age of 77.
As well as being a talented cricketer, John was also a very good footballer, rugby union player and later in life turned his attention to golf where he excelled as well.
Away from the sports field he was a popular history teacher at Workington Grammar School.
Several ex-pupils, hearing of his death, expressed their sadness, unanimous that he had been both an excellent teacher and one of life’s good guys.
But it was with Cumberland cricket club that John probably left his greatest mark, representing them in the Minor Counties for 20 years – from 1973 to 1993.
In a tribute, the county club said: “Cumbria CCC are saddened to announce the death of their former captain John Moyes in Cockermouth after a short illness.
“Having previously played 17 matches for his county of birth; Suffolk in the Minor Counties Championship in the late 60s, John arrived in Cumberland in 1973 and played for the county until 1993.
“By then he held the county record for Championship appearances at 128 which was later equalled by Malcolm Woods. However, John remains the only county player to have batted in over 200 Championship innings for the county side. He was club captain in 1980 and again between 1985 and 1991.
“A pinnacle of his career was to lead the county side to their first Championship title in 1986 at New Road, Worcester against Oxfordshire.
“Across all formats he played 149 matches for the club, scoring 4,627 runs, including two centuries and took 88 catches and made one stumping as an occasional wicket-keeper.
“At club level he was professional for Kendal Cricket Club in 1975 and 1976 and as their captain he led the club on their journey to the National KO final held at Lord’s in 1992 and then followed up with back-to-back Northern League championships in 1993 and 1994.
“He also played for Penrith Cricket Club as professional from 1980 to 1982 and as an amateur with Workington Cricket Club from 1983 to 1991.”
Club president Eric Carter said: “It was with great sadness that I heard that John had passed away. Cumbria County Cricket Club has lost a great stalwart. He made a distinctive contribution to the county side for 20 years.”
Gareth White, of the Cockermouth club, said: “He came down to the nets in Cockermouth when he first arrived in the county and had a couple of seasons with us.
“In fact he ended his club career back at Cockermouth when he was my opening partner for a couple of seasons – and he was also my history teacher at school. He was a really good guy, an excellent cricketer and teacher, who will be sadly missed.”
Outside of cricket John played football for Workington Reds reserves when they played at a high standard in the North Regional League and also rugby union for Workington Zebras. Latterly he was a keen and successful golfer.
As well as teaching at Workington Grammar School he also taught at Cockermouth School and in his retirement sang with the Castlegate Singers in Cockermouth.
John leaves his wife Dianne and two sons Jimmy and Richard. Jimmy played three times for Cambridge University at cricket in first class matches against Middlesex, Essex and Oxford University.
A tidy wicket-keeper he also played 38 Minor Counties Championship games for Cumberland between 1994 and 2001, and also six MCCA Trophy matches.
