KEIGHLEY Cricket Club stalwart Lesley Robinson has died aged 78.

A long-serving official of the Lawkholme Lane club, Lesley, well-known for serving teas at their club alongside her husband Keith, also did a lengthy stint as a well-respected secretary of the Heavy Woollen Cup, and was also secretary at Baildon Cricket Club.

The phrase “second mum” sums up her involvement for many players as she gave them a hug or words of encouragement when needed but she also had a steely side and wouldn’t suffer fools gladly.

Keith and Lesley, who were married for 59 years, had four children – Jamie, Richard and Philip, who were all notable Bradford League players, and a daughter Rachel, who is a married to cricketer and umpire Tim Burnley.

Richard is still the leading run-scorer in Bradford League history, while Philip went on to play for Yorkshire and Leicestershire. Jamie represented the Bradford League.

Lesley was still a vice-president of the Heavy Woollen Cup and attended meetings as recently as last month.

In 2014, the formidable partnership of Lesley and Keith won the Bradford League’s Unsung Hero award for their outstanding contribution at Keighley, while Keith won the Sir Leonard Hutton Trophy – the league’s most prestigious award – in 2013.

Another proud moment for Lesley came in 2002 when she presented the Heavy Woollen Cup to Richard after Keighley beat Baildon in the final at Liversedge.

“I was also named man of the match,” recalls Richard. “That didn’t have anything to do with mum, but some people probably thought so.”

Many tributes have been paid on social media to Lesley, showing the affection in which she was held

League chairman David Young said: “This is very sad news. Lesley was a lovely lady who did so much for cricket. She will be very sorely missed, and our thoughts are with her family at this time.”

Nasa Hussain, the league’s EDI Officer, has known Lesley since he was a teenager playing in junior cricket alongside Richard.

He said: “Lesley was like a second mum to me. She was so kind, so friendly and this is an extremely sad day.

“I can remember one day winning the player of the day award in the Robert Bland Indoor Finals. The prize was a bat and my brother always insisted that I only won it because Lesley was the adjudicator.”