Jack Moule
Sportsman
JACK MOULE, of Skipton, who has died aged 95 after a great innings, was one of the region’s most talented sportsmen of his generation.
He died peacefully in Airedale General Hospital, Steeton, on October 11, surrounded by his family. The fact that he did so on the stroke of six would have amused the former professional cricketer and footballer.
Jack was born on July 4, 1921, in Steeton-with-Eastburn parish, the only son of the late George and Alice Moule, who for many years ran the New Inn in Cononley. In fact, Jack and his wife, Helen, a nurse from Bradley, first lived there after their marriage at Christ Church, Skipton, on June 10, 1950, a union that spanned 66 years.
They remained in Cononley for many years, before moving to Silsden for some 20 years, relocating to Skipton around 25 years ago.
Jack’s sporting career, both as a naturally-gifted cricketer and footballer, was outstanding. Embracing both sports locally initially, he went on to play football for Leeds United as a Second World War guest player from 1943-46, scoring seven goals in 21 appearances. His other clubs included Morecambe, Rolls-Royce and Barnoldswick Park Rovers, where he helped them win the West Riding County Cup.
Jack Heald, late editor of the Craven Herald, once described him as “the hardest kicker of a dead ball I have ever seen”. A newspaper report on a Lancashire Combination Cup game for Park Rovers typified his skills when stating: “Moule took the free kick, placed the ball and wiped the toe of his right boot down the ball, found a gap in the defence and sent the ball sizzling into the net with a shot that never left the ground.”
On the cricket field, Jack was an accomplished all-rounder, playing locally in the Aire Wharfe League, before moving up to the Bradford League for a spell with Keighley, later becoming professional with Queensbury CC for 18 years, opening both the batting and bowling – a rare feat in a league of such high standard.
With regularity, he hit half centuries and centuries, and grabbed multiple wicket hauls. In the days when 50 runs or six wickets warranted a ground collection, he often earned both.
He was regarded as one of the Bradford League’s best allrounders, regularly finishing high in the batting and bowling averages.
Jack also captained at Queensbury and the club rewarded him a benefit match in his 14th professional season, by which time he had hit more than 7,000 runs and taken almost 500 wickets. He was also regularly chosen to play for the Bradford League’s representative team in inter-league competitions.
When his professional career ended, the Bradford League paid special tribute to “a great player and grand sportsman .... bringing nothing but honour to the league and credit to himself ”.
Jack completed his cricketing days with Cononley CC in the Craven and District Cricket League. He also captained the club, playing alongside his two sons Robin and Tim.
In the days when most professional sportsmen also needed to work for a living, Jack was an engineer for much of his working life. He and his wife also owned and ran a corner shop in Keighley for a time, while Jack also tried his hand at selling insurance and running a milk round. His final job was with Yorkshire Water at Silsden Reservoir, where he relished the open air and the many miles he had to walk checking supply lines.
He is survived by his wife, two sons, their wives, two grandchildren and one great granddaughter. The funeral service is at Waltonwrays, Skipton, at 12.30pm on October 26.