Cricket: Garsington's 'Mr Cricket' dies at 88

From the archive, first published Thursday 3rd Oct 2002.

George Parsler - a man synonymous with the success of Garsington Cricket Club - has died after a fall, aged 88.

Mr Parsler, the long-serving president and former captain, served on the original committee of the Garsington Sports Club, which was set up after the Second World War.

A gifted batsman and left-arm spin bowler, he first turned out for his village team in 1927 at the age of 14, and subsequently played OCA League cricket for well over 50 years.

Current league secretary and former teammate, Mick Belcher, said George was a stalwart of the club, who would be sorely missed.

Gifted

"Cricket was George's life. He played to a high standard until he was 65, and was a life vice-president of the OCA League because of the commitment he put in over the years," Belcher said.

"I can't remember a year when he didn't come to the league's annual general meeting."

"I played in the same team as him, and he was an exceptionally gifted batsman - an excellent hooker and cutter of the ball. He was a prolific run-scorer."

Mr Parsler presented Clifton Hampden with the Steve Dixon Memorial Cup this year when they defeated Marcham in the final at Garsington.

"He will be sorely missed as a supporter for Garsington and for the OCA," Belcher added. "I think he was at just about every game they ever played."

To mark his 50th anniversary of playing for the club in 1977, Garsington arranged a testimonial match for Mr Parsler, where The Oxford Times sports editor, John O'Callaghan raised a team to mark the occasion.

Former Hampshire batsmen Jack Godfrey - the Best Man at George's wedding - and opener Neville Rogers were the star names in O'Callaghan's XI, which lost to Garsington by six wickets.

Mr Parsler was an all-round sportsman, who also excelled at football, darts and Aunt Sally, taking up bowls towards the end of his cricket career.

He continued to play cricket in the second team for several years after his 50th anniversary with the club, until he finally hung up his whites in the early-1980s.

His funeral will be held at Garsington church on October 11 at 3pm.

He leaves two sons, Keith and Robert, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. HAPPY TIMES: George Parsler lines up with the teams who played in the match to mark his 50 years with Garsington Cricket Club in 1977. His sons Robert and Keith are just behind him, to his left.

Archive Home