Former Sale and Cheshire bowler / all-rounder K L Peet died following a long illness on Wednesday July 14th, aged 71. His funeral was held at St Ffriadd’s church in Trearddur Bay on Friday July 23rd 2010.
Keith Peet was a member of the cricket First XI during the 60s and 70s. He attended the 150th Anniversary Dinner in 2004 and had gently declined since. It is very hard to believe.
The Peets were well represented at the Cricket club. His father, Eric was first team umpire, his elder brother, Stuart, was a first XI batsman of considerable ability, and a slow left arm bowler, and his son, Nick, was a promising seamer and batsman before leaving to play at Brooklands. We, who played with him, remember Keith so well as a gentle giant and very well balanced man. He retired from playing cricket in the mid-70s to be able to spend more time with his growing family. On his retirement from Dunlop Rubber Company he moved to Anglesey, where he played for Sou'Westers CC. He played his last game in 2004.
It was a great pleasure to have played cricket with him in the 60s and 70s. No doubt those who played soccer with him would echo that sentiment. In his later years he took to swimming in the sea off Anglesey in a wet suit, possibly as a solo effort, as that sounds a serious pleasure.
The Honours Board at Sale CC records his match winning efforts for the club, and surely joins the ranks of the great players over the last 150 years.
His exploits as fast bowler, batsman and fielder will live long in our memories. In 1963 and 1970 he topped the batting and bowling averages, and the bowling averages 1964, 1967, 1968, 1969 and finally in 1973. He was Club Captain briefly but found he could not devote the time necessary. He also played for Cheshire.
A few anecdotes:
Playing away against Urmston the opposition reached 105 for 5 when Keith was driven over his head, over a fence into an adjacent school playing field; a very short boundary. Conclusion; Urmston 105 all out.
At a home game he arrived without his bat and had to borrow Ian Powell’s. Keith’s timing was not at his best; he shattered Ian’s bat in scoring 70.
At South West Manchester Sale batted first and were reduced to 28 for 6. Keith, at number 8 got 100.
Lastly. After a busy cricket schedule he arrived home after dusk and was greeted by his normally placid wife Jo who, somewhat exasperated at this time, threw his cricket clothes out of the bedroom window on to the rose bushes in the front garden; where they stayed until Keith collected them the following Saturday.
A well rounded man.
Jim Younger
