Jim Sumner
Posted by Peter Brainch on 17 August 2015
JIM SUMNER
It is with great sadness that the Club has learned of the death of a much loved and respected Club member, Jim Sumner, after a period of illness.
Jim’s funeral will be held on Thursday 20th August at Robin Hood Crematorium, at 1.30pm
Family flowers only.
It is unknown exactly when Jim joined the Club but he must have been a member for approximately sixty years. He has served the Club well over those years and the Club is proud of his many achievements over that time.
He was awarded his Club Colours at the end of 1964-65 season.
He acted as Club Fixture Secretary for eight seasons from 1991/2 – 1998/9
He was appointed as vice-captain of the 4th team during 1963-64 and also1968-69
He became captain of the newly formed Swallows (previously 4th team) team 1975-77
He was awarded Life Membership of the Club in 1987-88
He served on the Club Management Committee for ten years.
On his 80th birthday he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by WCHC in 2009-10
When injury forced Jim to retire from playing he turned his attention to umpiring and coaching the younger members of the club. The coaching involved regular Sunday morning training and moved on to setting up the u10 and u12 teams, playing friendlies and the joining the Warwickshire league for these teams. He always had an eye on recruitment and became involved in many coaching courses in local Primary and Secondary schools. The Easter tours to North Wales became a well-established youth team tradition.
Jim was instrumental in setting up the Club’s national Clubmark award, finally achieved in 2006-07 and the work with Calthorpe School culminating in its Club of the Year Award in 2008-09 for the commitment to providing sporting opportunities for young people.
It was a source of great sadness and frustration to Jim when the numbers of young recruits to the Club dwindled somewhat in recent years.
Many present players and ex-players owe Jim an enormous thank you for his tremendous efforts in setting them up at the start of their playing careers.
The Club owes Jim a great debt of gratitude for all his efforts over a long ‘career’ with the Club. He will always be remembered with great respect and affection.
