PAST and present cricketers from across the region gathered at St Paul's Church in Tupsley to pay a last tribute to one of the best known of their number.

But Eric Jenkins, who had died at the age of 67 after a long period of poor health, was not just one of Herefordshire's finest batsmen and coaches, he also excelled in other sports, too.

John Chadd, a cricketing teammate of Eric's for the first time in one of the Hereford Cathedral School's junior cricket sides 54 summers ago, recalled a talented footballer and tennis player. And a racket player who, when he turned his attention to squash in his 30s, became good enough to represent England at seniors level.

But, as a sportsman, it was cricket for which he would be best remembered and anyone who followed Eric into the next life, said Mr Chadd, would be sure to find him batting on a good pitch with short boundaries.

"They genuinely broke the mould when Eric was born," said son-in-law Alistair McHarg, recalling a devoted family man who had worked hard to build up his own businesses.

And Eric, he said, was also a fund of good advice, always generously given, on financial and many other topics.

As the large congregation left the church, appropriately the heavens opened. For one final time, rain had stopped play.