ONE of the great characters of Herefordshire cricket has died on the eve of the new season.

Joe Brown was a founder member of Moccas Cricket Club and had transformed Coppice Field into one of the county’s finest grounds.

The 61-year-old, who died peacefully at home on Tuesday, had lived in the village all his life and was planning to play for his beloved club this summer.

Moccas chairman Bill Bowen, who used to open the bowling with Joe, said the whole village was in mourning.

Friend Will ‘Cotty’ Cotterell has launched a Facebook group in memory of the cricket stalwart, who will also be remembered for driving diggers.

Bowen said: “Joe was looking forward to the new season and everybody in the village can’t believe the news. We all thought he was getting better.

“Joe had been off work since February and had had an operation recently in Birmingham, but he said he was feeling better.

“He’s been the groundsman ever since the club was founded in 1975 and he has turned it from an ordinary field into one of the best cricket grounds in Herefordshire.

“Joe was down there every day last week and I only spoke to him on Friday and he was very positive about playing.

“He’s the only original Moccas member left besides me and he played for Moccas every season since 1975.

“Even when he was ill a few years ago, Joe still managed to play a few games for the club.”

Joe was Moccas’ leading wicket-taker and finally scored his maiden half-century for the villagers against Dales in June 2009 - his 32nd year with the club.

Joe, who never married, was also the club’s former captain, press officer, league delegate and club website administrator.

Marches League secretary Derrick Jones says he first got to know Joe, his brother Dave and the rest of the Brown family after taking up a policing role in Madley in 1976.

“At the time I was playing at Ross and Joe lured me to play at Moccas,” said Jones.

“I have always said that Joe Brown is Mr Moccas Cricket Club - everyone associates Moccas with Joe.

“I actually put Joe forward as the first winner of the Rob Staite Award which he picked up in February 1998.

“The photograph of Joe with the award is in the cricket pavilion which, he and his sister Phyllis, helped to build.”

Jones described Joe as a deceptive right-arm swing bowler and an obdurate left-hand batsman who could go anywhere in the order.

“He was reliable and a greatly respected figure who will be sadly missed for his dry humour,” said Jones.

Joe’s funeral service will take place at Moccas Church next Tuesday at noon.