FORMER Craven resident Ronald Rishworth – who left the family home at Thornton-in-Craven to work for Shell in The Hague – has died in Holland at the age of 83.

Mr Rishworth, a former pupil of Ermysted's Grammar School in Skipton, was a keen sportsman who played cricket, rugby and golf, and for ten years in the 1980s was on the Dutch rugby and cricket selection committees.

Born in Kelbrook in 1932, his family soon moved to Thornton. After leaving Ermysted's in 1950, he went to Christ's College, Cambridge, where in between excelling in German and French, he played cricket for the college team.

After graduating, Ronnie, as he was known, went to work as a translator at Shell in The Hague, where he picked up Dutch and eventually became head of the translation department, staying until he retired at the age of 60.

In Holland, he was active in helping to develop cricket, playing for and captaining the HBS Club – one of the 'big three' Dutch clubs in the Sunday League. After retiring from playing, he continued to take an active role in the club by becoming an umpire and officiating in 424 matches, before retiring at the age of 78.

He also helped develop rugby, became a referee and was president of the Te Werve Rugby Club.

Following retirement, he continued with his love of sport, by becoming treasurer of the Golfers International Group, continuing to play golf right up until he died.

He was awarded the Order of Oranje Nassau in the Birthday Honours list of the Queen of the Netherlands in the early 1990s in appreciation for his contributions to business and sport.

On his yearly visits back home, he would visit Earby Cricket Club, where he used to play, play a round of golf at Ghyll Golf Club and, where possible, watch a match at Burnley Football Club.

He leaves a son, Roderick, in Holland, his brother, Robert, in Huddersfield, and sister, Betty, in Skipton.

A funeral has taken place in Holland, and his ashes will eventually be returned to Yorkshire.