Youth cricket development fund established in coach’s memory

A fund to support emerging players has been established in the memory of popular former Kent youth coach Bob Duckworth.

Mr Duckworth died last year and his wife Lesley and daughter Anne were special guests in the President’s Marquee during Canterbury Cricket Week earlier this month, pictured above with President Lady Kingsdown OBE.

A Lancashire man, he trained to become a teacher in London and spent his career in Kent and South East London, in his later years at St Dunstan's College.

He was first involved with Kent youth cricket in the late 1970s and served through the 1980s when he coached the county's U16 teams including several cricketers who played at first-class and international level including Rob Key.

One highlight of his coaching career was the Kent U16 tour to New Zealand that included England assistant coach PaulFarbraceand Chris Hollins, who is now a BBC TV presenter.

Kent committee member David Turner, whooversees the planning and delivery of the elite youth programme, was a close friend of Bob and paid tribute to his commitment to the grassroots game.

Mr Turner said: “Bob never lost his love of Lancashire nor of his adopted county of Kent and when he passed away last September he left legacies for Lancashire CCC and Kent Cricket, to support talented young players who need financial support to make the most of their potential.”