A MAN described as “the most influential Windsor cricketer for four decades” has died at the age of 80.
Alan Middleton was a veteran member of Windsor Cricket Club – back to the days when it was Windsor Victoria Club. Over a long period beginning in 1952 he played more than 1,000 times for the Vics, scoring 18,350 runs and taking 1,424 wickets – over twice as many as any other Windsor cricketer.
He was club captain four times, 1st X1 captain six times and vice-captain or 2nd X1 captain eight times.
The club retiring president Tony Monk said: “Alan was quietly and modestly the most influential Windsor cricketer for four decades from the 1950s to the 1990s both on and off the field.
“It was his dedication to the club and upholding the standards of play and etiquette on and off the field that endeared him to everybody.”
Cricket was not his only love. He played football for Eton Wick, where his daughter Christine says he earned the nickname Blades, due to the way his elbows stuck out when charging through the opposition.
Mr Middleton grew up in Eton with his parents Florrie and Jim and brother Don and lived there all his life, most recently in Somerville Road.
He served with the RAF in Egypt and Cyprus, later working as an electrician at Eton College, moving to Crane Packing on the Slough Trading Estate.
He was a veteran member of Eton Ex-Servicemen’s Club and a keen allotment holder.


He leaves his wife Ivy, children Christine, Ken and Tracy, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
The funeral is at Slough Crematorium on Thursday, March 10 at 2.30pm, followed by a wake at Windsor Cricket Club.