The Twelfth Man 2018

17 W e lost another good friend to the Society only four weeks before the 2018 season started when Dave Callaghan died from a heart attack at the age of 63. For many years he hosted our Society’s Christmas lunch by interviewing the guest of honour but he had to miss the 2017 Christmas lunch because he was working on the BBC’s coverage of the Ashes. The Cricket Writers’ Club President David Warner said: “In all of my 44 seasons of covering Yorkshire cricket, I have not come across a more likable or friendly colleague who was a larger than life figure and who was a consummate professional. “He was superbly suited to his earlier roles as Radio Leeds sports editor before joining the Rugby League for a while but it was when he began covering Yorkshire CCC home and away that he found his perfect niche in life”. “When the BBC local radio stations began their ball-by-ball coverage of County Cricket I wondered if the long hours and total commitment which was necessary would prove too arduous for Dave, but I couldn’t have been more wrong.He relished the challenge and was absolutely brilliant, not only giving day-long live commentary but also cutting in several times each hour to serve the local radio stations throughout Yorkshire.Dave led the way and his expertise was admired by colleagues doing a similar job with other counties around the country”. “Both the media and Yorkshire County Cricket Club have lost a dear friend whom it will be virtually impossible to replace but it must be of some comfort to all who knew him that he went out at the very top of his game.” YORKSHIRE Chief Executive Mark Arthur said: “Dave was a very special person who loved Yorkshire County Cricket Club. He will be missed by everyone associated with Yorkshire Cricket. This is a terribly sad day and our thoughts are with his wife Pat and his family.” Reproduced from the Yorkshire County Cricket club web site by kind permission of YCCC. A society member for many years, Keith Donkin, died suddenly in May aged 78. When he made his debut in local cricket at the age of 14, where he kept wicket for Monk Bretton, he became the youngest ever keeper in the Yorkshire Council. By 1984 Keith had played for 30 years and had bagged 1000 victims. Wicket-keeping was in his blood, his Dad Walter kept wicket for Monk Bretton and his Grandad also played local cricket as a wicket keeper. After leaving Monk Bretton. Keith joined Frickley, Wombwell Main, Hickleton Main, Kirkburton, Hanging Heaton and Grimethorpe Colliery. During the 10 years he was at Hanging Heaton he helped them win the Yorkshire Council Heavy Woollen Division play-off 4 times. At Wombwell Main he played with Peter Myers, David Haigh, Keith Wilson, Archie Wooton, Arthur Pearson, Brian Ivil, the footballer Tony Leighton and the team A TRIBUTE TO A CLASSY KEEPER © Barnsley Chronicle 1998