John Latimer, a retired chartered accountant and long-time member of Bishopthorpe Cricket Club, completed his latest league outing – on the weekend of August 2-3 – with one wicket for 13 runs in an opening 5 over spell.
A spokesperson said: “With ball in hand, he brings a calmness that only comes with time.
“No wild deliveries, just a laser-like focus to hit the top of off stump, ball after ball.”
Alongside his weekend commitments at Bishopthorpe, Mr Latimer plays social cricket for Scarborough-based ‘Bitter n Twisted’ and for Shepherds, who are captained by his son, David.
To mark his becoming an octogenarian, Shepherds hosted a friendly fixture in Mr Latimer’s honour – with the team sheet featuring four members of the Latimer family across three generations (including Mr Latimer’s sons David and Peter, and his grandson, Nathan).
Mr Latimer first played red ball cricket in the summer of 1954, when he was nine years old, in a school team captained by the late Christopher Martin-Jenkins.
A spokesperson said: “In those early days, helmets were something only ever worn by Formula One drivers, and all teas were baked by hand.
“Since then, he’s worn every hat imaginable over his long cricket career as a player, chairman, treasurer, and umpire – sometimes all in one afternoon.”
Mr Latimer’s highest score with the bat is 73, and his best bowling figures are 6 for 22.
