Roger Bullen a Cranleigh stalwart

Roger Bullen, a stalwart of Cranleigh cricket for generations, has died aged 89. He was a highly capable batsman and when he finished playing became an umpire and stood in many OC matches until the 1990s.

Bullen served on the Arctic convoys during the Second World War. He was part of a post-war Cranleigh side who were among the best in the area, with an enviable fixture list on Sundays, which included the likes of Bob Attwell, Peter Adams, Nigel Paul, John Griffiths and Dudley Couper.

With television still in its in-fancy and cars comparatively rare, cricket on the Green was a major attraction. Cranleigh were also a formidable force in the Flora Doris Cup, winning it seven times between 1947 - a year after it started - and 1960, spectators often several deep on the boundary.

Bullen, who was made an honorary life member by the club for his services, was generous with his time, as John McDermott recalled: "Roger would umpire for the club and for us in Old Cranleighans week and did the school's matches as well. He was part of a wonderful team as a player and the Cranleigh team in those days was incredibly strong. It was a wonderful club to grow up into and Roger was one of those responsible for that.

"He was a cricket man through and through. He did a lot for the club and was very much a man of Cranleigh."