VILLAGE cricket stalwart Bill Reader has died after a long battle against cancer. He was aged 88.

Born in Escrick, he spent all his life there, playing a significant part in village life.

Educated at Archbishop Holgate’s Grammar School, he was a keen sportsman from school days. He opened the batting and bowling for Escrick Park for many years and also played for York Wanderers and South Bank.

His all-round ability earned Reader a place in the England Over-40s team, which toured Denmark and Holland.

Dutch cricket officials asked him to become a member of their veterans’ section, the Still Going Strong Club, and he played tour matches in South Africa, Barbados and New Zealand.

Reader played cricket until he was in his 60s before retiring after suffering a fractured cheekbone caused by him pulling a shot which sent the ball into his face.

A member of York Hockey Club, Reader also played football for Escrick and badminton at Barlby. Reader, pictured right, was president of the Canon Hedley village cricket competition.

After a spell working for the National Farmers’ Union, he moved to the Escrick Park Estate, where he served as estates manager for 48 years.

During the Second World War Reader was a navigator in the RAF.

Heavily involved in the life of Escrick, he was a founder member of the Probus Club, a parish councillor and church warden for more than 50 years and a tenor in the Tuesday Singers. He also established an appeal for funds to undertake major repairs to the roof of St Helen’s Church.

Married to Pat for 56 years, he is survived by her, daughter Gillian and sons Neil and John.

The funeral service will be held at St Helen’s Church in Escrick on Friday at 1pm.