TRIBUTES have been paid to a well-known cricketer.

Steve Megginson, who captained Malton Cricket Club during the 1960s, died on March 20, aged 93.

Born in 1923 at Squirrel Hall, Kirkby Grindalythe, Steve’s passion for cricket was nurtured at Malton Grammar School by sports master by Bruce Rolls.

Steve’s son, Richard, said: “It was Mr Rolls who honed dad’s talent with both bat and ball, and in the winter it was football, school teams, village teams, if there was a game going dad was playing.

“Coming home to farm alongside his father and brother proved exciting as the new fangled tractors were just making their mark.

“The late 1940s early 1950s were full - cricket evenings and weekends in the summer, football and ploughing matches in the winter and farming in between.”

In 1952, Steve branched out on his own taking the tenancy of Wayrham Farm on the Garrowby Estate. He and younger sister Ruth moved up to the High Wold farm. Steve met his wife, Doreen, at a dance in 1955 and they were married on August 10 the following year, having three children, Richard, Jill and Kerry.

Richard said: “Throughout this time dad still managed to fit in farming and family while captaining Malton Cricket Club for several very successful seasons through the 1960s.

“However 1970 heralded a move back to Wharram as my grandparents retired and Lord Middleton offered dad the chance to take over the tenancy.

“Another change was playing less cricket and taking up golf, which frustrated him at first as he couldn’t master it as he had done cricket. But he thoroughly enjoyed it, making many friends.

“In the early 1980s dad’s next big challenge was my return home to join him on the farm after three years at college and a year in Australia. He often said that he taught me all I know.”

At this time Steve and Doreen moved to Malton, although he still went to the farm every day.

“I would like to thank all those people who made dad’s latter years much more comfortable,” said Richard. “I will not list all the names for fear of missing someone out, but they know who they are, all the doctors and nurses at York, Scarborough and Malton hospitals, the caring staff at Rivermead, and those who helped nurse him at home.

“However, I am going to make one exception to my rule - mum - any good batsman needs a good partner at the other end, and for 60 years she gave dad her constant love and support, only wavering slightly over the cricket teas. Dad didn’t quite make that century, but it was a damn fine innings.”

A collection at Steve’s funeral service raised more than £1,000 for Malton Cricket Club.