John Edwards, a long-serving member of the South Oxfordshire Amateurs, has died at his home in North Devon at the age of 88.

Edwards, who joined the SOA while teaching at Bloxham School, ran the club's Western Tour for more than 40 years.

A nagging away swing bowler, he continued playing cricket into his early 80s.

Robert Florey, the SOA president, represented the club at his funeral on Monday.

A memorial service will be held in Yorkshire next month.

Steve Williams, the secretary, said: "John was a tireless supporter of cricket and ensured the SOA continued to play against good opposition in wonderful grounds on our annual tour."

Edwards, who had been headmaster of Hipperholme Grammar School in Halifax, leaves a widow Sylvia and three granddaughters.

  • Relegation for Dinton's first team would also demote their second team despite the sides' contrasting current fortunes in The Oxford Times Cherwell League.

A glance at the Division 2 table sees Dinton struggling near the bottom, while Dinton 2nd are promotion candidates in Division 3.

We are only a third of the way through the season, but should this situation continue, the rules are clear.

"If a team is relegated into the same division as another team from the same club, then the team already in that division will also be relegated".

This would be the case even if Dinton 2nd win Division 3 as a second team cannot surplant a first team.