Tributes paid to Sudbury Cricket Club legend Ted Clarkson following death aged 85
A celebrated stalwart of the Suffolk sporting world – dubbed ‘Mr Sudbury Cricket Club’ for his decades of contributions to the organisation – has died at the age of 85.
Tributes have been paid to the legacy of Edward Clarkson – more commonly known as Ted – who was one of the key figures behind the town cricket club for more than 50 years.
Having joined the Talbots in the late 1960s, he enjoyed a 25-year stint as chairman between 1977 and 2002, before serving as president from 2003 until his death.
Ted’s interests also extended into many other local sports, including founding Sudbury Squash Club, assisting the town football club, and keeping long associations with two local golf clubs.
Louis Brooks, the current chairman at Sudbury Cricket Club, said: “Ted touched the lives of so many people across East Anglia in the cricketing and sporting world.
“We are so lucky that the club and Ted found each other in the late 1960s.”
Originally from Yorkshire, Ted was educated at university in Dublin, before moving to Suffolk to work at Holloway Plastics in Glemsford.
He lived in Henny for 35 years, then Kersey, and finally settled in Friars Street in Sudbury – where the cricket club is based – seven years ago.
After spells playing cricket for Cavendish and Twinstead, Ted joined Sudbury Cricket Club in 1969, and captained the first team between 1974 and 1976.
Over the ensuing decades, he held several roles for the Talbots, including club treasurer, fixture secretary, chairman and president.
In addition, he led the club’s fundraising committee, and ran Cricket Week for many years, while also assisting Suffolk County Cricket Club in an administrative and voluntary capacity.
Ted’s achievements include saving a section of the Friars Street ground in the 1970s, spearheading a pair of pavilion extension projects, and bringing two successful Taverners Days to the club.
His service to the Suffolk cricket scene saw him recognised with a Lifetime Achievement Award during a special ceremony at Lords back in 2013.
Mr Brooks added: “We have lost a friend, a true gentleman, a great club and family man, who would always lend advice and support without trying to meddle.
“It’s not always easy running a cricket club and he was always someone I and others could turn to.
“He was someone who had been there, done it, got the T-shirt – someone you could trust and you know he always had the club in his heart.
“The greatest thing we can do to honour Ted is to carry on with his life’s work.
“We will protect his legacy and make sure our great club continues in the traditions, passion and qualities that Ted showed us for generations to come.
“Above all, with a great sense of fun and pride in what we do.”
Outside of his cricket activities, Ted was involved with the former Sudbury Town Football Club, producing the souvenir brochure when the team reached the FA Vase final at Wembley in 1989.
He was also a long-time golfing enthusiast, with many years of membership at Stoke-by-Nayland and later at Newton Green Golf Club.
One of his most notable legacies, though, was launching Sudbury Squash Club back in 1978.
Having befriended future world champion Jonah Barrington at university, Ted successfully made the case for the construction of squash courts in Gregory Street.
He then established the club after securing financial support from builders Grimwoods and John Hilary Travel.
The organisation ran for 11 years, and included men’s, women’s and junior teams, before closing due to financial difficulties.
John Butcher, who helped run Sudbury Squash Club, said: “Edward collected a wonderful team to help the club become a social, as well as a sporting, venue unrivalled in Suffolk.
“The bar became the social centre of Sudbury, with Edward always in the background pulling the strings.
“For all those involved, we will never forget those years. Thank you, Edward, for the wonderful memories.”
