John Hampshire passes away aged 76

John Hampshire, the former England and Yorkshire batsman who later became an international umpire, passed away on Wednesday (1st March) aged 76 after prolonged illness.

Hampshire played just eight Tests for England and started his career with a hundred on debut against West Indies in 1969 at the Lord’s. He also featured in three One-Day Internationals with his highest score being an unbeaten 25 against Australia in Manchester.

Hampshire, who took over the role of president of Yorkshire in March last year, was delighted with his new role and had termed his appointment a remarkable achievement. “It is very much the icing on the cake of a Yorkshire career – from a very humble beginning, getting trains, trams and buses to Headingley to practice in the winter in hope of getting a game for Yorkshire Seconds, to being president. I think it’s quite an achievement,” he said.

Steve Denison, chairman of Yorkshire County Cricket Club, paid tributes to Hampshire. “John epitomised everything that’s good about Yorkshire County Cricket Club. Brave, talented and with a heart of gold he captained Yorkshire, scored a century at Lord’s on his Test debut and became a highly respected umpire after hanging up his playing whites.

“Loved by players and Members alike, John capped his wonderful life in Yorkshire cricket as our club President last year. On behalf of everyone involved with and connected to the Club, I would like to extend our most sincere condolences to John’s wife Alison and two sons Ian and Paul. He will be sorely missed by all at Headingley,” he said.