Branscombe Cricket Club has paid tribute to one of its members and the village’s ‘great characters’ in the form of a memorial bench.

A crowd of 40 people gathered earlier this month to see the tribute be unveiled in memory of Richard Maskrey, who died in October last year from a heart problem.

The painter and decorator was 52 years old and a member of the club.

John Ardene, president of Branscombe Cricket Club, knew Mr Maskrey for 26 years and remembered him as a batsman, umpire and, later, caterer for the club’s annual winter awards ceremony.

He said committee members had the idea after Mr Maskrey’s death and revealed the bench ahead of the club’s new season.

“He was a great character in the village and he was very well known. Everyone had spoken to him or heard of him,” said Mr Ardene.

The club has inscribed the message ‘come and sit with me, my dear old friend’ on a plaque and the bench will be in pride of place at the playing field for passers-by to sit on and enjoy the new cricket season.