Jonny Bairstow leads tributes to retiring David Kirby (From York Press)

Jonny Bairstow leads tributes to retiring David Kirby

11:47am Wednesday 18th July 2012 in Sport By Graham Hardcastle

YORKSHIRE and England star Jonny Bairstow presented a signed Test match shirt to David Kirby to mark his retirement from St Peter’s School in York.

Kirby has been made honorary life president of St Peter’s Cricket, whose former pupils include York-based Bairstow.

Kirby has been associated with the school for 60 years and was presented with a commemorative plaque which will be hung on the pavilion wall.

The stalwart’s career stretches back to the 1950s when he attended St Peter’s, playing first XI cricket for five years.

He graduated to Cambridge, where he captained a side that contained two future England cricket captains in Tony Lewis and Mike Brearley.

He then went on to skipper Leicestershire as the youngest ever county captain.

Kirby was headhunted by the then headmaster of St Peter’s to return to the school and help with the first XI cricket team.