TRIBUTES have been paid to a “unique and loyal” cricket club president who devoted his life to the sport for more than five decades.
Benfleet Cricket Club president Dave “Nashy” Nash passed away peacefully at the age of 77 last week.
Dave joined the club in May 1969 and went on to become the club’s leading run scorer of all time, playing 1,209 matches and scoring 22,359 runs, with 89 fifties and three centuries.
Away from the club, he enjoyed spending time with his wife Brenda, his two daughters Catherine and Emma, and his four grandchildren.
John Hearn, chair from 2000 to 2007 said: “It is absolutely terrible news. The club has lost a true legend, someone who gave the club so much.
“No job was ever too small as long as it was for the club whether it was rolling the pitches in the seventies, scoring his 20,000th run or being the club biographer.
“A great club man who will be sorely missed by us all. My thoughts are with Brenda and the family.”
During his many seasons at the club, based in Woodside Park, Manor Road, Dave was secretary, captain, Saturday 1st team captain, Sunday captain twice and club person of the year three times.
With his long service to the club, he was nicknamed Mr Benfleet.
Mike Tremain, 1st team captain from 2001 to 2006 says he was a “true club legend and the club wouldn’t be what it is today without him”.
In 1968, Brenda and Dave moved to Rayleigh, and he was a teacher at The Sweyne Park School, in Sir Walter Rayleigh Drive, Rayleigh, where he inspired staff and students to play, including treasurer Jon Wright, in 1971.
Mr Wright said: “I opted to play at Benfleet because of ‘Nashy’ at 14, and even when my son joined the school to teach in 2008, it was clear his legacy lives on at the school.
“He was a brilliant administrator – a man of unique enthusiasm and loyalty, who devoted 100 per cent effort to every task he undertook.
“He leaves a vibrant, family-friendly social cricket club in the best possible health.
“We will forever owe him a huge debt of gratitude.”
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