‘This was an innings compiled with flair’
TRIBUTES ARE PAID TO FORMER BOSS OF MAJOR TOWN FIRM RUMENCO, AND HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL CAPTAIN OF BURTON CRICKET CLUB –
TRIBUTES have been paid to a wellknown Burton businessman whose passion for sport saw him praised by all who knew him.
Dr Peter Bradfield died last month at the age of 78 at his home in North Yorkshire following a long battle with cancer
He will be remembered by many in Burton as the former managing director of animal feeds firm Rumenco Ltd, in Derby Road, but to others it was his love of cricket and hockey that made him the stand-out character they will never forget.
Dr Bradfield, who was father to Gail and Paula, was a prominent member of the successful Burton cricket and hockey clubs in the 1970s.
His former colleagues at Rumenco have said they will remember him with gratitude for his stewardship of a very successful company, where he forged strong links with many other local firms.
Many former employees have spoken fondly of the interest he showed in them and the help and guidance that he gave them during their careers, according to fellow cricketer Bob James.
Dr Bradfield’s nephew Iain Horner, speaking at his uncle’s funeral, said: “There is so much more that could be said or recalled about a man whose life was so well lived.
“You often hear a life compared to a cricketing innings and it made me think about my uncle Peter in the role of batsman out in the middle, us his friends and family as the admiring onlookers as he accumulated the runs in style.
“No scratching round and nurdling the odd single in the manner of a Boycott or a Hussain for Peter. This was an innings compiled with panache and flair.
“Imagine a cricketing maestro in the mould of a Richards, a Botham, a Flintoff or a de Villiers – the kind of player who creates a buzz around the ground for those lucky enough to be present and moments which people can look back on and think, ‘I was there’.
“The kind of innings that inspires those looking on that we’d hope to emulate somehow – to bottle just a bit of the magic to take with us.
“Sadly, my analogy falls down here, as unlike a cricket innings, there is no ‘carrying your bat’ in life, no red ink in the scorebook for being ‘not out’ at the end of the day.
“Sooner or later, life sends an unplayable delivery your way and, boy, did Peter get the mother of all jaffas with this cruel illness. Whatever the resilience and skill of the batsman, this one was destined to beat any defence.
“Now, for us looking on, the rapt crowd who had seen our man move so serenely past his half cen
tury, there was every expectation that three figures were on the cards. To his admirers, near and far, he was invincible. For us all, the journey ended far too soon. We can’t help wishing that he’d just made a few more.”
Born in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, Dr Bradfield studied at the universities of
Reading and Nottingham, where he got his PhD in animal nutrition.
He came to the Burton area in the late 1960s to take up a post at Rumenco and, having played county hockey for Berkshire, soon made his mark at Burton Hockey Club as a skilful and quick forward whose goals contributed to the club’s achievement of winning the Midlands Club Championship in 1971.
The side, captained by Willie Welch, went on to reach the quarter-finals of the national competition.
Willie said: “He was not only a fine player, but also made an enormous contribution off the field as well.” Willie, now the club president, added that his own considerable tally of goals owed much to a wellrehearsed short-corner routine with his friend.
Dr Bradfield played county hockey for Derbyshire, but it was to be on the cricket field where he made an even bigger impact, captaining the Burton Cricket Club side that won the championship of the then Central League for four consecutive seasons from 1974 to 1977. A left-arm seam bowler, hard-hitting batsman and fielder who had appeared for Suffolk in his younger days, he led the side with both charm and authority, turning a team of talented individuals with contrasting and strong personalities into a cohesive and formidable unit, former Staffordshire opening bowler Bob James said.
Very competitive but always totally respectful of opponents, he was a charismatic skipper who brought the best out of his players, he added.
Then vice-captain David Woodburn said: “He was an inspirational captain on the pitch and an energetic and effective chairman off it.”
Bob said: “As a motivator and man manager, he had no equal. Everyone respected him, teammates and opposition alike.”
The Central League no longer exists in these days of ECB Premier Leagues, but it was one of the strongest leagues in the Midlands at the time, and many former and current county professionals would play in its member clubs’ teams, he added.
Former England captain David Gower, when he was playing for Loughborough Town, was one of the people who played against Dr Bradfield.
According to his former teammates, it was a testimony to the strength of the Burton club under his leadership at the time that they lifted the championship trophy for those four successive years.
Dr Bradfield decided it was time to retire from cricket in the early 1980s when he was in his 40s.
His funeral was held at Conistone, near Skipton, where he had retired. It was attended by many of his former friends from the Burton area.
Sooner or later, life sends an unplayable delivery your way and, boy, did Peter get the mother of all jaffas
Iain Horner