Popular cricketer dies of heart attack

A former Milnrow and Heywood cricketer has died of a heart attack at the age of 51.

Gary Wilkinson was a popular figure with supporters of Heywood Cricket Club, who he joined from Milnrow in 1998 and represented as a player for 12 years until his retirement from cricket in 2010.

John Rhodes, vice chairman at Heywood Cricket Club, was full of praise for a man he describes as "a thoroughly good lad". 

“Gary’s personality made him so popular. He was the type of person who would tell it like it was. If he thought something was wrong he would say so.

"He was always one of the boys. Everyone from the club would go to the Wetherspoons in Heywood every Thursday and Gary was always there.

“There are those that support the club by their actions and Gary was certainly one of those people. He was passionate about the club and passionate about his work in photocopying.

"He was a good cricketer. It was considered quite an acquisition when the club managed to sign him from Milnrow.”

Mr Wilkinson leaves a wife Karen and a son Dominic.

His funeral was held at St James’ Church in Milnrow on Friday 3 January.