Tributes have been paid to a cricket club stalwart who “lived and breathed cricket”.

Tom Gould, aged in his early 70s, of Lodge Road, Braintree, had been a member of Braintree Cricket Club for more than 50 years and had been a player, coach, barman, groundsman and committee member before becoming president.

He died in hospital on Tuesday evening after a year-long battle with lung cancer.

Mr Gould, who used to work at Crittall Windows when they were based in Braintree before coaching full-time at Essex County Cricket Club, leaves behind a son, Shaun, who is also a Braintree Cricket Club member.

Club secretary Geoff Eveling, who was coached by Mr Gould, said: “He certainly lived and breathed cricket."

See this week's Braintree and Witham Times for the full story.