We are very sad to report the passing of Daphne Sharman, widow of the Club’s long-time Juniors Cricket Manager and former Club President Frank Sharman. Daphne was well into her ‘90s and had been frail for some time, but was always pleased to see visitors right up until the last few months.

She was well-known to Club members over many decades, a kind, charming and gracious lady who supported Frank as the bedrock behind the scenes as unofficial secretary and ‘mother’ to generations of young cricketers, and for many years prepared all the food for the annual Colts’ Supper.

In recent times since Frank died, she visited the Club on many occasions to be present, for example, at the opening of the Frank Sharman Pavilion on the bottom square, at the Vice Presidents’ Days and the MCC Lunches, and at the junior festivals for the Frank Sharman Trophy – indeed the last time she was able to visit the Club for an ‘official’ occasion was to present the prizes at that Festival two years ago. She was almost always sitting outside her garden watching cricket during the summers, passing the time of day with passers-by, and for the lucky ones was always ready to share a glass of wine or a cup of tea and piece of cake.

She will be greatly missed by countless Club members and former members who were honoured to have her as a friend, and her sad passing marks very much the end of an era. She will always be fondly remembered as someone who represented the very best of the Sunbury Cricket Club ethos and tradition.