Whitehaven Cricket Club have announced the death of their long-serving president Isaac Park aged 88.
A long-standing committee member, he was asked to take on the role of club president in 1985 following the death of John Wade.
Isaac, known as Ike, was popular and dedicated holder of the position since then and was especially delighted that, during his tenure, the club celebrated its bi-centenary in 2024.
Ike had joined the club as a teenager in 1953, and his batting talent was obvious from the very start as he quickly established himself in the first team.
Early in his career, he playing alongside the club’s popular Indian professional Avi Desai.
In 1957, Ike married Yvonne Baxter, who herself became a familiar and much-loved presence at the Playground, cheering Ike on during three successive Higson Cup victories: 1968 v Carnforth, 1969 v Ulverston, and 1970 v Vickers Sports Club.
In 1973, Ike was victorious once again in the Higson Cup final, this time against Haverigg.
Ike captained the club in 1965 and 1966, before later returning to the role during the 1974 and 1975 seasons.
His prowess with the bat saw Ike represent Cumberland 32 times in the Minor Counties Championship in which he scored 625 runs with a top score of 44 and took 13 catches. He had made his debut in 1957 and his final appearance in 1972.
Perhaps his most notable game during this period was against the West Indies at Carlisle’s Edenside ground in 1957 when he was in his first season as a county player.
Among the touring side was Garfield Sobers, considered by many to be the finest all-rounder to have graced the game, as well as pace ace Wes Hall and opening batsman Rohan Kanhai.
Ike retired from first team cricket in 1981 and then lent his expertise and experience to the young players coming through the second team.
He soon also became a long-standing committee member.
A club spokesman said: “Ike will be a huge miss at Whitehaven Cricket Club.
“He had the respect of everyone, both on and off the field, and will be sadly missed by the cricket community of West Cumbria and beyond.”
He is survived by his wife Yvonne and daughter Karen.
