JOHN Walker, a gifted local sportsman, was a Slaithwaite boy, born and bred.

He was best known for his prowess on the cricket fields for several clubs including, of course, Slaithwaite.

Mr Walker died on April 22, aged 62, after a brave battle against cancer.

He attended Slaithwaite National School and Colne Valley High School and began his engineering career at the Globe Mill in Slaithwaite.

John married his wife, Sandra, at St John’s Church in Golcar in 1968 and they later had two daughters and four grandchildren.

His cricketing career was exemplary.

He was an accomplished opening batsman for Slaithwaite, Meltham and Marsden and in 1972 set a club record for the Hill Top side.

He scored 108 in a game at Armitage Bridge and shared a record-breaking partnership of 206 with John Chippendale (102 not out).

It was only the second time in the club history to that point that two Slaithwaite players had scored centuries in the same match.

He was also a well-known local footballer, starring for many years as a full back for Golcar United after playing at semi-professional level for Bradford Park Avenue.

A quiet and caring man off the pitch, he was fiercely competitive on it with a true determination to win.

After finishing his sporting career, John took to walking the hills and dales of England with his wife.

Friends said John was always happy at his work. After his early years at Globe he spent many years at David Brown Tractors in Meltham and also at Sellers Engineering, where he was considered to be “a loyal and dedicated employee”.

People will remember him for his dry sense of humour.