It is with great sadness that we report the death of the Buckinghamshire Cricket Board chairman Cliff Pocock on December 27 at the age of 67.
A former British Airways captain, Pocock devoted his retirement to looking after the interests of BA pensioners as a trustee of the BA pension scheme and to the development of the game he loved both as chairman of the Bucks Cricket for 14 years to 2014, where he saw through the setting up of the board as a company limited by guarantee, and as a trustee for the Bucks Youth Cricket Trust.
A passionate advocate of local cricket clubs, Pocock was a stalwart at his own club Freith and was devoted to the development of young cricketers throughout the county, not just to play representative cricket but to instil a lifelong love of the game and form part of the next generation of club players.
Thousands of young cricketers have benefited directly from his involvement and hundreds more will remember him as a wise and friendly umpire always ready with a quiet word of advice.
Pocock had risen to the highest level possible as an umpire in recreational cricket being on the Minor Counties Panel. He was past chairman of the Bucks Umpires Association.
It is with great sadness that we report the death of our Chairman Cliff Pocock http://t.co/xAOinjNhh0
— Bucks Cricket Board (@BucksCricket) December 28, 2014
He used his umpiring knowledge, combined with a legal background gained from taking a legal degree at Oxford Brooks University in his retirement, to become a valued member of the ECB’s Discipline Commission where Chairman Gerard Elias,QC remembers Cliff as a wise and kind man.
John Pickup, Chairman of the ECB Recreational Assembly, commented that Pocock’s contribution to cricket, in his many roles countrywide, was both invaluable and outstanding.
Pickup said: "On behalf of the Recreational Assembly we extend our deepest sympathies to his family and to the cricketing community in Buckinghamshire."
Paul Bedford, ECB Head of Cricket (NFC) recalls the role Pocock played in ensuring the ‘Spirit of Cricket’ remained at the core of promoting senior level club cricket and throughout recreational cricket.
He said: "My colleagues at ECB that knew Cliff and within the cricket family will remember him with affection and great respect. At this sad time our thoughts are with his family and close friends."
Thanks to all who attended Cliff Pocock funeral yesterday. Superb and touching Continue his work as the best tribute to a remarkable man!
— Bucks Cricket Board (@BucksCricket) January 8, 2015