Devon Cricket Board - Bradninch bid fond farewell to Bailey

Bradninch bid fond farewell to Bailey

BRADNINCH Cricket Club have said a fond farewell to one of their club stalwarts, writes Stephen Birley.
Simon Bailey, more affectionately known as ‘Bails’ was given a grand send-off by the mid-Devon club after the final game of the Francis Clark Devon league season.
Bailey has been struck down by a debilitating illness that has forced the sale of his Exeter home and a subsequent move to be cared for by his parents in Yorkshire.
Bailey (pictured) first turned out for the club in 1982 and has been with the club ever since.
After his playing days were done he took up umpiring for the club, but that had to stop last season as his illness worsened.
This season he has still been a regular supporter at home games travelling by bus from his Exeter home to be with either 1st or 2nd XIs.
His farewell night took place at a club packed to the rafters with members, including many of his former team-mates.
Bailey was presented with a signed BCC shirt and a ceremony was held that saw a set of cricket bails burnt and the ashes from the bails are set to be put into an urn that the club intend to use each year from 2015 as a trophy for an internal club 6-a-side competition to be known as The Bails Bash.
Bradninch chairman Derrick Foan said: “We are deeply saddened to lose Simon who has been incredibly brave battling his illness.
“He leaves with our heart felt thanks for his amazing 30-plus years of service.
“He did say in his departing speech that he hoped as many of the club as possible would travel north to visit him and we shall certainly be making sure from a club point of view that we don’t lose touch with a very special person.”

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