DES Severs, a well-known sporting character in the village of Heslington, near York, for half a century, has died suddenly. He was 66.

Mr Severs, who was born at Clock Farm, Heslington, spent the whole of his life in the village. He attended Lord Deramore's Primary School and Fulford School before starting work for Geoff Brown, a local farmer. He worked for the Brown family for 51 years before his retirement, although he then continued to work on a part-time basis in Brown's shop in Main Street.

He played as a wing half on Heslington football team and was an all-rounder in the cricket team and when his playing days were over continued to support the cricket team, seldom missing a match.

Mr Severs, who was single, collapsed and died near the village of Hartoft when on his way with Bob Pearcy, president of Heslington Cricket Club, to a shooting party at Rosedale. The funeral service is at York Crematorium on Monday, December 30, at 10.30am.

Updated: 11:28 Tuesday, December 24, 2002