Tributes pour in for Shropshire's John Bryan Foulkes

Foulkes, who lived in Four Crosses, Montgomeryshire, died at home on Sunday following a battle with lung and respiratory problems over the last 18 months.

The former umpire, Shropshire CCC chairman and president was recognised in the 2011 Queen's Birthday Honours for services to the community in Powys.

He was chairman when Shropshire won the Minor Counties Cricket Association Trophy in 2010, taking up the role of president the next year which he held until his death.

Peter Bradley, who stepped down as vice-chairman with him in 2011, said: "I was in touch with Bryan as recently as last week and went to see him in hospital regularly.

"He was an umpire in his younger days, reaching Minor Counties, and was very much a part of the Umpires Association. Then he became chairman of Shropshire.

"He enjoyed a successful nine years with that, before we both stepped down. We felt that it was time to move on and allow the new chairman to bring in some new blood.

"We were good friends and stayed in contact after that, Bryan will still president when the illness took hold but he, obviously, did struggle to get to matches towards the end."

Shropshire CCC's current chairman Toby Shaw added: "It's with great sadness that the club have learned of Bryan's death, after battling ill health for sometime.

"He will be greatly missed and our thoughts and condolences are with his wife, Jean, and the family at this difficult time."

Ex-Shropshire player Jono Whitney made his own personal tribute to Bryan on Twitter.

He tweeted: "Extremely upsetting to hear of the passing of Bryan Foulkes.. Did wonderful things for @shropshireccc condolences to his family #ripbryan."