In a service held at St Giles Church in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire CCC remembered former captain Reg Simpson.

Simpson, who passed away in November aged 93, had been Nottinghamshire and England’s oldest-surviving player.

Nottinghamshire players past and present were in attendance, as were MP Kenneth Clarke and ECB Chairman Giles.

“I knew him all my life. I first watched him bat at Trent Bridge at a very early age, probably six or seven,” said Club Chairman Peter Wright at the service.

“He will be remembered as a very graceful and brilliant batsman who has left his mark on Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club.” 

Born and raised in the city, Simpson made his debut for Nottinghamshire in 1940, before serving with the RAF in the Second World War.

Following his return to England, he made 27 Test Appearances and enjoyed a fruitful county cricket career, playing 495 first class matches for Nottinghamshire, amassing more than 30,000 runs.

More than half of those matches came as captain, leading the team 249 times between 1951 and 1961.

Following his retirement from the professional game, he served on the club’s committee, before becoming a director at Gunn and Moore.