IF anyone ever earned the right to be called Herefordshire's 'Mr Cricket', it was Pete Sykes, who died suddenly last week at the age of 78.

As the founding secretary of both the Herefordshire Cricket Association and the Hereford & District Cricket League, in the 1970s, Pete Sykes played a vital and huge role in the development of cricket in the county.

He was secretary of the league until 2000 and only stepped down from role with the association's successor, the Herefordshire Cricket Board in 2010.

And, as if he didn't already have enough to do in his twin roles, he added the role of Herefordshire County Cricket Club secretary to his portfolio in 1991 to oversee preparations for when the county side joined the Minor Counties Championship the following year.

He went on to serve on the Minor Counties management committee and held his Herefordshire role for more than two decades until his untimely death, which leaves a big hole at the heart of Herefordshire cricket.

A long-standing employee of Henry Wiggin and its successor companies where he worked in the quality and technical department for more than 35 years, he was also a useful cricketer for the works side and a regular runscorer as a determined middle-order batsman.

"Pete was the engine oil of cricket administration for Herefordshire cricket," said Herefordshire CCC president Nick Nenadich.

"I did put him forward for honours for his unstinting dedication to local cricket.

"He was both kind and generous and will not be replaced - his loss will be felt heavily in Herefordshire and the Minor Counties.

"I am thankful that Yorkshire's loss was very much our gain and now the game will never seem quite the same."

Herefordshire CCC chairman Bobbie Hadley added: "Pete was a stalwart of the cricket world both at home in Herefordshire and also nationally through his prestigious position in the Minor Counties Cricket Association.

"He was a 'chuckle' of a man who always made you smile. He was kind and caring - a man with a heart of gold who will sadly be missed very much by all who knew him."

Pete Sykes leaves a widow, Liz, and children Helen, Mike and Sarah. His funeral will be held at Hereford Crematorium today at 3pm.