We are sad to inform all that Peter Wright, a long standing North Leeds member and player of distinction, passed away on the morning of Friday 21st June peacefully at home with son Andy by his side aged 94 and a half.

Peter was a great stalwart of the club for many years and great team member and played all his cricket at North Leeds after joining the club as a 14 year old, perhaps the original junior member, and making his 2nd X1 debut aged 14 in 1939 and he always remembered the 1930s side as a top-class one.

After some war service in the RAF (near end of war) he returned to the 2nd X1 in 1945 in their last year in the Leeds League and the young Peter Wright made 265 runs in 4 innings to show his promise.

He made his 1st X1 debut in 1947 aged 22 and played virtually throughout from then with the 1st X1 usually batting at five or six. He was a most dependable batsman and club man. He also made 3 appearances with the Airedale and Wharfedale League side.

He was a member of four 1st X1 Championship winning sides in 1948, 1951, 1953 and 1956 and the Waddilove Cup in 1955. In 1952 he shared a partnership of 135 for the 4th wicket with Doug Morris (101) and Peter scoring 49 v Skipton, still a club record, and a year later in 1953 he shared a partnership of 133 for the 3rd wicket with Tony Balmforth (108) again scoring 49 against Calverley , again still a club record.

A great memory was that he was a member of the Waddilove Cup winning side in 1955 (the only time North Leeds have won it). In the first round Peter and Jack Best put on 72 in 30 minutes with Peter scoring 2 6s and 7 4s in his score of 86 against holders Horsforth Hall Park with North Leeds achieving 192-8 in their 30 overs. In the second round they beat Otley and in the semi-final they beat Guiseley at home, The final was against DP&E at Otley where North Leeds made 219-7 in their 35 overs with Peter batting at number 7 making 7 runs before DP&E were bowled out for 143. He leaves Denys Bull as the only surviving member of that side.

Many memories of him featured on his running between the wickets with his “Yes! No! Wait! Go Back! Oh sorry!” accounting for many colleagues wickets and also his throwing. He almost always fielded at gully but would threaten a throw from anywhere else to deter batsman but many were just under-arm returns!

His sons Nick, a talented wicketkeeper, played for the 1st X1 and represented the League Under 18s in 1974, and Andrew, a batsmen with obdurate technique also played for the club and established his first team place in 1979.

Peter was 1st X1 Vice-Captain certainly in 1959 and perhaps year before and after but by 1960 however Peter was not able to play regularly.

He later served as Club Chairman (whilst I was Club Secretary) from 1974 to 1976 and was a Vice President for 50 years. Throughout all this period he lived on Davies Avenue with his wife Pat and in the last years (until he moved to Boston Spa and then to near Andy) at No 5 so near to the club.

I knew him from about 1952 when I was scorebox tinboy and then 1st X1 scorer and he was always friendly and a true club stalwart.

Ian Chappell