Somerset mourn death of Eddie Lawrence

Eddie Lawrence, a stalwart of Somerset cricket since the 1980s and an honorary life member, has died aged 81.

Lawrence was the acting chief executive of the county for a short period in the late 1980s after his move from Kent, and also took up the role of chairman - and, later, president - of the Former Players' Association.

In 1991 he coordinated the Somerset Centenary Year Benefit, and was also heavily involved with the Somerset Cricket Museum. In 1997 Lawrence was made an honorary life member in recognition of his services to the county, and from 2002 until his death he was the honorary librarian and a very active trustee. In 2006 he took on the added responsibility of acting curator of the cricket museum.

"Eddie was a great supporter of Somerset for many years following his move from Kent and we will always be grateful for what he did for the county," said Michael Hill, former chairman and president of Somerset.

"He served Somerset in many roles each one of which he carried out successfully, including the Former Players Association which he was heavily involved with and which after John Barnwell gave up, he became the mainstay and kept that organisation going," he added. "Eddie Lawrence will be very sadly missed by everybody associated with Somerset County Cricket Club."