OXFORDSHIRE cricket is mourning the death of one of its most loyal servants.

Gordon Taylor, 80, was president of Great & Little Tew CC and involved at the club for more than 60 years.

He played for the west Oxfordshire side from 1952 and was captain for 27 years, while he also represented and led Oxfordshire at over 50s level in the 1980s and 1990s.

Taylor was groundsman at Tew from 1956, spending countless hours tending to what became one of the county’s truest pitches.

The ground is now called The Taylor Oval in recognition of his commitment.

Tew chairman Dave Freeman said: “He put the ‘Great’ into Great & Little Tew.

“His passion for cricket at both senior and junior level was unrivalled, he was Tew through and through. We will all miss him terribly.”

Oxfordshire’s Minor Counties captain Jonny Cater called Taylor a ‘true legend’, adding: “Gordon was an outstanding individual with so many qualities which others could only dream of having.

“He always had time for me and the boys at Oxfordshire Cricket.”

Taylor’s funeral takes place on Friday, December 6 at 1.30pm at St Michael & All Angels Church in Great Tew.

  • Obituary in Thursday's Oxford Mail.