Very rarely do we as sportsman meet someone who stands head and shoulders above the rest in terms of honesty, integrity, old fashioned values, good wholesome camaraderie, mutual understanding and respect.

It is with sadness, sorrow and grief that we learnt of the recent death of Eddie Hart, leaving behind the ever supportive wife Sylvia and three sons.

Eddie was a very simple ordinary bloke whose association with the local cricket and football leagues spanned over 50 years.

He was a gentleman in its truest sense who was both literally and metaphorically a giant above the rest. His other interests included gardening, well known for his horticultural expertise.

‘Steady Eddie’ who through his sporting interests, achieved not just mutual recognition from the local participants but his fairness, knowledge and contributions brought the communities together.

He remained a constant feature of local cricket as the demographics and communities changed around him. Eddie’s first involvement with the Blackburn and District cricket league was way back in 1947 when he used to attend games to watch his father play.

Eddie as well playing in the league has held a number of official positions. He had been league treasurer since 1973 and league secretary for 20 years.

He had also been umpiring week in week out since 1969. In recent years his contributions were recognized by the league he so dearly loved to be a part of.

In 2011 at the annual Blackburn and District league presentation ceremony both he and Sylvia received a standing ovation for their contribution to local sport.

During the same year both were honoured with the Fusion Mumtaz Ellahi Community Sports Award. But awards aside many will remember him for his wonderful knowledge and dedication to cricket. He remained a regular swimmer where I would occasionally engage in mutual banter with him.

His readily smile and calmness in all things 'pressure' will be sorely missed as he remained the pivotal anchor for the local cricket league.

I think, I speak for many when we say we will miss Eddie Hart as a lifelong friend and mentor.

Thank you Eddie for all you stood for and all your contributions to community sport. We will all miss a fantastic irreplaceable human being of the highest order.