Devon Cricket Board - Tributes paid to umpire Gary Aldridge

Gary Aldridge umpiring at Budleigh Salterton - the bowler is James Hudson

By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE
DEVON’S rugby and cricket communities have been stunned and saddened by the death of player and administrator Gary Aldridge, who had been battling cancer for nearly a year.
Aldridge, who was 63, died unexpectedly in Derriford Hospital where he was being treated for pneumonia.
Doctors thought Aldridge was making a recovery, but his condition deteriorated and he died on Thursday. He was 63.
Aldridge was the president of Devon RFU when he died, having been voted into office last July. He was also an active cricket umpire on the elite panel of official in Devon graded to take charge of Premier Division matches.
The title president is misleading, as his Devon RFU job was to chair the county committee not just hand out cups and trophies.
Aldridge was a latecomer to rugby having previously played soccer for Ivybridge Town and Bere Alston.
“A knee injury stopped Gary playing football but he was always built for rugby and aged 29 he switched codes,” said Martyn Aldridge, who is Gary’s younger brother.
“At the time he lived in a house backing on to the rugby pitch and as there was no clubhouse or showers then he got changed at home and climbed through the hedge on to the field to play.”
Aldridge joined Ivybridge RFC in 1977 at the same time as Jim Edington, who had recently moved to the town from Barnstaple.
Edington played alongside Aldridge in the Ivybridge front row for the best part of 10 years and remembers the experience with great affection.
“Gary was the best tight-head prop I ever hooked with and was far better at it than the standard we were playing in those days,” said Edington, who went on to become Ivybridge chairman.
“Playing alongside Gary was like being in a comfortable armchair – he was so good he made me look a better player than I was.
“Gary went on to play 419 1st XV games for the club, which remains a record. In these days of 30 games a season if you are lucky, that record is going to stand for a long time.
Edington said Aldridge had a talent for organisation and getting things done, a sentiment echoed by former Devon president Maxwell Turner, who worked closely with him during 14 years together on county duties.
“Gary first got involved around 2000 as coach of the U20 side, having previously been with the Schools U18 Group which we were not involved in, and his involvement just grew,” said Turner.
“He represented Devon on various national committees and word soon got around Gary knew what he was talking about as he was soon invited to become as South West U18s’ selector.
“Gary was Devon’s representative on the South West players insurance fund and in county got involved in our finance committee as well.
“For the county teams he was kitman, team manager, mentor and goodness knows what else.
“Gary got things done, no doubt about that. He was larger than life in stature and outlook. You didn’t always agree with him, but he had respect. Devon and rugby’s wider community will miss him.”
Aldridge played cricket for the long-defunct Moorhaven team before getting involved in the formation of Ivybridge CC in 1975 with, among others, John Scott and Rod Swift.
Scott, whose rugby career blossomed as a referee before injury cut him down, said Aldridge took his cricket seriously.
“Gary kept wicket for the team and was also a useful lower-order batsman,” said Scott.
Aldridge carried on playing until the mid-90s then turned to umpiring and soon climbed the ladder,
By 2006 Aldridge was on the Premier panel where his no-nonsense but friendly approach won him many admirers.
Gavin Lane, the Plymouth-based chairman of the Devon Association of Cricket Officials, said Aldridge took his sport seriously and it showed on match days.
“Gary was deservedly a Devon Cricket League premier umpire by skill and by performance,” said Lane.
“He loved the game and enjoyed the privilege of watching players showing their skills at close range.
“Ambitious and eager to keep his Premier category, he also supported local cricket - be it youth or evening league - to the full.
“Gary will be remembered as a firm but fair umpire, a good colleague and a friend.”
Gary Aldridge was born in Ivybridge and won a place at Plympton Grammar School aged 11.
His working life started as an apprentice fitter at Wiggins Teape paper mill in Ivybridge and took him into the insurance industry before a switch to the retail motor trade with a number of firms in and around Plymouth, including Allens, Rodgers of Brixton, Renwicks and Vospers.
Aldridge retired from the motor trade in his mid-50s and took a job at Ivybridge Community College in the sports department.
Away from the rugby and cricket pitches, Aldridge served as a governor at Ivybridge Community College and was a freemason in the Pelican Lodge which meets in North Hill, Plymouth.
He was a long-standing member of Ivybridge Constitutional Club.
“I am not sure how long he was a member, but my brother joined in the days when women were not allowed in the place unless they were cleaning it,” said Martyn Aldridge.
Aldridge was married to wife Sarah for 38 years. The couple had two children – Mark and Joanne.
Mark is a university lecturer in Southampton. Joanne is a police officer based in Torquay.
“Joanne presented Gary with his first grandson in January, which I know he was very proud of,” said Martin.

Gary’s funeral will take place at St John’s Church, Ivybridge at 11am next Monday (June 23), followed by a family burial service at Woodlands Cemetery, Ivybridge

A gathering has been arranged after this at the Sportsman’s Inn, Ivybridge, to which all are invited

The family have requested family flowers only and donations may be made to the children’s Ccharity sponsored by the Wooden Spoon Society.

To pay your tribute to Gary Aldridge, click here