TRIBUTES have been paid to an immensely popular former Netherfield Cricket Club captain who died in a road traffic accident.

Kendal-born David Otway, 52, was a father of three sons: Matthew, 29, Peter, 27, and Max 13, and lived in the area all his life before leaving for a job with the Skipton Building Society in Yorkshire in 1999.

However, he stayed connected to the area with family links and his involvement with Netherfield.

Mr Otway was a pupil at Stramongate Primary School and Kendal Grammar School, which later became Kirkbie Kendal.

According to his mother, Ruth Otway, his life revolved around sport. Mr Otway played rugby to U19 level for Kendal RUFC, and was part of the Cumbria U19 team that won the national championships against Cornwall in 1983.

His main interest, however, was cricket. He made his way through the junior ranks at Netherfield Cricket Club, before going on to captain the Parkside Road side.

After making his third team debut in 1979, he played for the club for 20 years, winning many trophies including Netherfield's first title win in the Northern Premier League in 1997. He stayed on as the club's Northern League representative until 2013 by which point he had too many responsibilities due to work with Alderley Edge Cricket Club and Wilmslow RUFC, as well as working with the north west branch of MCC.

Of his cricketing exploits, his mother said: "It was very, very important to him and he worked at all aspects of it. He was a player and also a team man. A club man."

Mr Otway died after an incident in his Volkswagen Touareg on Wrynose Pass at Little Langdale, near Ambleside, last Wednesday. His car left the road and was located further down the pass. Police are not treating the circumstances as suspicious.

No other vehicles were involved in the crash but the road was closed for most of the day while an investigation was carried out and the vehicle was retrieved.

Mr Otway's middle son, Peter, said: "The main thing for us as his sons is how much he loved his sport and and how much he helped us in that sense when we were younger. He was a very proud dad and I think we all knew that."

David's influence in cricketing circles was vast. He was good friends with former Australian batsman David Boon, who was the season professional at Netherfield in 1981. Boon actually lived with Mr Otway and his family during his time in Cumbria.

Meanwhile, former England and Yorkshire captain Michael Vaughan was quick to pay tribute to Mr Otway, tweeting: "Such a tragic loss... David Otway will be remembered for inspiring so many youngsters at Alderley Edge CC. #RIPDave."

Long-serving Netherfield Cricket Club secretary Ian Heath had been friends with Mr Otway since the late 1970s, and he was deeply saddened to hear of his death.

"I always thought he was an absolutely brilliant guy," he said. "He was a happy, smiley-faced man and he would do anything for you.

"He was very popular and I don't think he ever had a bad word for anybody and he was a proper sportsman – if he got beat he would shake hands and get on with it, and I had great admiration for him.

"I was absolutely devastated (when I heard). His mum rang me and told me and I just couldn't believe it.

"I was shattered by it, as was everyone else at the club."

The funeral service for Mr Otway will take place on Wednesday, October 5. Contact Hayes and Parkinson on 01539-720105 for more details. Donations to be made to the Child's i Foundation in Uganda which Mr Otway supported following an MCC tour of the African country.