Possibly the oldest former Falkland Cricket Club player, Brian Barlow passed away peacefully on 8th December aged 95. His funeral is at 11 am at West Berkshire Crematorium on Tuesday 7th January, with refreshments afterwards at The Bowler's Arms at Falkland CC.
At the age of 17, Brian volunteered for service in the Royal Berkshire Regiment, claiming he was a year older! His father had served with the regiment in India before him. Brian's first posting was to Israel at the onset of the Aran Israeli conflict, soon after he was transferred to the Royal Hampshire Regiment in Austria.
As a post-war member of Falkland Cricket Club he played up to 1955 before retiring to concentrate on his family and work as a builder. He was one of a band of volunteers that worked to restore the Enborne Lodge ground to a playable condition after the ravages of the war years. Resources were scarce in those days and sometimes the only means of cutting the outfield was the use of scythes! When the first small pavilion was constructed in 1952, Brian's building skills proved very useful.
Through the years he remained a keen follower of Falkland CC as it expanded its horizons, and even into his 90s was often seen watching a match or enjoying a pint in the Bowler's Arms.