Community and Sarisbury celebrate Grant’s life
Two Hampshire cricket clubs came together to celebrate the life of one of their former players.
Portsmouth Community welcomed Sarisbury to Cockleshell Garden in a fundraising friendly in memory of Grant Bauchop, inset right, who sadly passed away last month.
Grant had recently become a qualified ECB core coach and had set up a bat refurbishment operation.
Community CC chairman Matt Barber told The
News that Grant “was an accomplished all rounder. However, it was his love for the game, larger than life personality and willingness to give up his time to support others, both inside and outside of cricket, for which he will be fondly remembered.
"He played with a determination to win but with an enduring sense of fun and humour and will be greatly missed by friends and family alike.”
The two clubs played a 30-over friendly which Sarisbury won with four balls to spare.
Community posted a score of 168-7 with vice captain Dave Going top scoring with 58.
In reply, Sarisbury won thanks mainly to opener Sam Freemantle's 65.
The day, though, was all about Grant and his partner Sophie, his parents Sharon and Gary, his sister Melanie and his brother Stuart, all of whom were all in attendance.
A number of Grant's friends and work colleagues from Bookers also came down to Cockleshell Gardens to join in the occasion.
They all watched as, before the game, captains John Creamer and Stephen Osgood walked through a guard of honour and Sophie laid out Grant’s match shirt, followed by a two minute round of applause.
The event raised £1,500 for charities close to Grant's heart, Opening Up and Help for Heroes.
Among many raffle prizes were signed Southern Brave shirts and match-worn helmets from Hampshire skipper James Vince.
Grant's funeral will be held next Tuesday at Portchester Crematorium. “It will be another opportunity to celebrate his life and the legacy he leaves behind,” said Barber.
He played with a determination to win but with an enduring sense of fun and humour