IT is with great sadness that we learned of the death of Tommy Pritchard yesterday morning after failing to recover from the injuries he suffered in a fatal road accident on Christmas Day morning.
'Pritch' became Horspath's scorer at the beginning of the 2011 season, the club's first year in the Home Counties Premier League.
This usually entailed him driving down from his second home, Leeds University, the night before the game. From that year on until he became the landlord of the Fox at Boars Hill, his name became synonymous with that of the club.
His scoring in the book matched his impeccable dress code, and he quickly became as popular with the opposing clubs and players as he was with his own.
Following games, he would hold court with the players of both sides regaling them with his version of the game and putting them right from where they had gone wrong.
He did not play very often for the club but traditionally captained the side against South Oxfordshire Amateurs (SOA). He usually led this side to victory despite insisting on both opening the batting and bowling the bulk of the overs from one end.
Cricket was not his only love as he enjoyed playing rugby at both Oxford and Oxford Harlequins where he was a prop in the Dan Cole mode. He was also very proud of the fact that he had made the most appearances in the history of Leeds University rugby.
He was a very good golfer and, as one would expect, darts player. Although much of his time would have revolved around sport and its social life, he did still manage to find the time to study History at Leeds from where he emerged with a doctorate. So, he was a true all-rounder.
His personality, warmth and humour made him the ideal landlord and he would have made a great success of being the other side of the bar. He leaves us with many great memories with which we can reminisce whenever we come together.
Our deepest sympathy goes to his parents, Sarah and Paul, and his countless friends.