TWO memorial benches that honour former players at a village cricket club have been stolen after being ripped out of their concrete bases.
Members of Burwarton Cricket Club spent months raising £560 to buy the benches and plaques which were placed outside the clubhouse for players and spectators to sit on.
They were shocked to discover the theft, which happened overnight on May 29. But now Ditton Priors firm Downes Timber and Garden Products has offered to build two new benches with plaques and insert steel rods into them free of charge so that they can’t be stolen.
Jamie Yardley, from the club, said the theft of the benches was “despicable”.
“I cannot believe that people went and stole memorial benches,” said Mr Yardley. “If they were plain benches that’s one thing, but stealing memorial benches with the plaques to remember dead players is despicable. It’s like people stealing from churches.
“We are a very, very small village and club with one of the oldest pavilions in the country, you don’t expect it to happen here. We don’t make any real profits so we had to raise the money through donations.
“We got as much money together as possible and we decided to buy the memorial benches for Pip Alderson and Dr Richard Grove who were both big figures. In the club people were very shocked when they found out.
“They were just ripped out of the concrete. We have all been left disappointed that we only got around to getting them in and someone has taken them.
“Last year there were a few local robberies but nothing like this.
“It would take us a couple or more events to raise money to replace them but Downes Timber and Garden Products in Ditton Priors has offered to build us two brand new benches with plaques and put steal rods into them so they can’t be stolen again,” he added.
“We are delighted they are doing this for us, to donate them in this way is fantastic.”