John Hartridge: 1931-2020

John Hartridge (left), with his successor as first team scorer, Mike Charman.

Sussex Cricket was sad to learn of the death of the club's former first and second team scorer, John Hartridge, earlier this month. He was 89.

John's funeral will be held in the North Chapel at Woodvale Crematorium, Brighton at 12.00 on Wednesday 2nd December, but due to COVID-19 restrictions attendance is limited and is by invitation only.

John's successor as first team scorer, Mike Charman, has written the following tribute:

I first met John in the mid-1980s when I moved back to Sussex and started umpiring local cricket and John was the scorer for Lewes Priory CC, at that time one of the top teams in the Sussex League.  Our paths continued to cross with him in that role and a similar one with the Sussex Martlets.

In late 1994 in my role as Assistant Secretary of Sussex CCC I was informed by Frank Ketley, the then 2nd XI scorer, that he was standing down and my knowledge of John’s scoring skills meant I did not have to look far for Frank’s replacement - John had as well stood in for Frank on previous occasions.  John was approaching retirement from his profession as an architect and negotiated with his partners in the firm that he could work part-time in the cricket season.  Thus in April 1995 John was appointed as 2nd XI scorer, a post he held until the start of the 2002 season when he was promoted to 1st XI scorer upon the retirement of the late Len Chandler. 

John unfortunately experienced some health problems in 2004 and these, coupled with an increased workload, led to him suggesting that he and I shared the duties for 2005.  Although this arrangement worked reasonably it was not to either of our likings and, being the gentleman he was, John graciously took early retirement at the end of 2005.  Thus he served a relatively short time in the 1st XI role but in that period achieved something never done before and by definition will never be repeated – he had the honour in 2003 of being the Sussex scorer when Sussex won the County Championship for the first time in its history.

John’s love of cricket was passed on to his son Charlie, a fearsome all-rounder, and in turn to his grandson Andrew – he was justifiably proud of both of them as he was of his other children.  Sadly John lost his loving wife Pat in 2011 but in recent years had found companionship with another lady and the condolences of us all are extended to her and to the whole Hartridge family at the sad loss of this devoted servant of Sussex cricket.  RIP, John.