Former Oxfordshire Over 50s opening batsman and well-known local umpire John Thornton has died aged 75.

Mr Thornton, of Benmead Road, Kidlington, passed away in the John Radcliffe Hospital last Wednesday after a year-long battle with cancer.

He was a prolific runscorer for the Civil Service CC, regularly making 1,000 runs in a season, before they became Oxfenford CC, and he also played for Erratics.

He was one of the founder members of Oxfordshire Overs 50s in 1986, and as well as playing he was the treasurer, a post he still held.

When he stopped playing, he took up umpiring and officiated in the Oxfordshire Cricket Association as well as in representative matches, including in The Parks.

Players observed a minute’s silence in his memory at Oxfordshire Over 50s’ game against Wales at Oxford Downs last Thursday.

He also played football for St Frideswide in the Oxfordshire Senior League, table tennis in the Oxford League and was a member of North Oxford Golf Club.

Educated at Southfield School, he did his National Service in the RAF in Ceylon in 1953, and after working in the accounts department at Pressed Steel, he was the company cashier for CSE Aviation at Oxford Airport from 1961-1998.

He leaves a wife Carole, son Jonathan, daughter Melanie and three grandchildren Hannah, Sarah and Joseph.

A funeral service will be held at St Mary’s Church, Kidlington, on Tuesday, June 9 (12noon).