A 94-YEAR-OLD cricketing stalwart, who spent more than 65 years of his life committed to Netherfield Cricket Club, has passed away.

Although Gerald Robinson did not play the sport he was an avid spectator. He served on the club committee until the early '70s, with Doreen helping out by making the teas.

"He was still attending cricket matches until the season ended last year," his son, Alan, said.

"He was very humorous - or quite a few people thought he was anyway. He always liked to crack a joke with the other members. He used to sit on the front with five stalwarts. He did like the cricket."

While serving the club, he rubbed shoulders with some well known names in the cricketing world, including Bob Entwistle, Jack Ellis and David Boon.

"To me and my wife, Doreen was the Duchess and Gerald was the Lord because he'd got a moustache and that symbolised somebody of high standing I always thought," Ian Heath, secretary for Netherfield Cricket Club said. "He would be there every game, first team and second team. He used to have his lunch there before the game for the past three years.

"He was very well known and popular."

Mr Robinson was born to Septimus and Gertrude on March 27, 1922 and grew up in Kendal.

Educated at St Thomas's Primary School and then Kendal Boys Secondary School, Mr Robinson signed up to serve in the Royal Navy at the beginning of the Second World War.

He worked as a mechanic on several aircraft carriers, with the main one being HMS Illustrious.

After returning home at the end of the war, Mr Robinson married Doreen in November 1945 and they went on to have four children together; Alan, Sally-Ann and the late David and Jane. He worked for Dobies in Kendal, as a fire man for British Rail for 14 years and then joined K Shoes, where he was employed as a mechanic and company chauffeur until his retirement at 65.

Mr Robinson's other great joy in life was his family and he had six grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

There will be a celebration of Mr Robinson's life at Kendal Parish Church on Monday, (Feb 27) at 1pm, followed by refreshments at his beloved cricket club.