FRIENDS and colleagues in both the cricketing and business world are mourning the loss of Tim Sugden, who died last week at the age of 55.

For many years, Tim was a well-known and respected batsman with Armitage Bridge in the Drakes Huddersfield League.

He also had a short spell at Bradford Park Avenue and Lockwood in his youth, while also being a member of the Craven Gentlemen cricket team.

Brought up in Berry Brow, he attended St David’s Preparatory School, before moving on to Sedbergh School when he was 13.

He was later to become Head of School and received his First XI colours at both rugby and cricket.

Upon leaving school he was awarded a place at the University College, Durham, where he later gained a degree in Economics.

While there he won his University cricket colours playing in the first team for Durham.

Tim also played soccer with Huddersfield Amateurs, where he was first team captain, and from 1965 was a member of Huddersfield Golf Club.

But cricket was his real love in sport and it was at Armitage Bridge where he made his name in local cricket circles.

He racked up 10,000 runs in the First XI while making a century against Scholes in 1998, and in total scored over 12,000 runs for the club.

He also served the club well off the field and held the post of treasurer for 16 years.

In 2002, Tim was presented with one of the prestigious Lady Sykes Candlesticks, awarded by the Huddersfield League to a player who has given outstanding service to his club and cricket.

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As managing director of the Sellers Engineering Group he was instrumental in his company sponsoring the Huddersfield Junior Cricket Leagues.

After graduating from Durham, Tim took up a post with Armitage Norton in Huddersfield to study accountancy.

He qualified as a chartered accountant in 1978, joining Waddingtons in Leeds before returning to Huddersfield in 1980 to join Sellers Engineering.

He was soon to become financial director before being appointed managing director.

In 2006, he was made president of the Huddersfield Society of Chartered Accountants.

Last summer he was taken ill while on a family holiday in Portugal with a malignant brain tumour. He passed away last week at Kirkwood Hospice.

Tim leaves a widow, Tracy, and three sons, Richard, Sam and Thomas.

More than 500 people attended a service at Holy Trinity Church to celebrate Tim’s life.