August 2026 saw us sadly loose two long standing members of Marple CC – Peter Shuttleworth and Ron Graham who will be sadly missed. The Clubs flag will be flown at half mast in respect. R.I.P. The following tributes by our own Mark Brook.
Peters Celebration of life details are as follows :
Friday 18th September 2026
The hearse will leave Longhurst Lane and drive through the Club at approximately 10.10am, then depart around 10.15am for the drive to Stockport Crematorium.
10:45 service at the Rowan Chapel, Stockport Crem
Aftermatch at Marple Cricket Club from midday ….
Hazel, John and Philip and families will be honoured to have you join them.
Peter Shuttleworth was a true Marple cricket club stalwart, if ever there was one. As a student at Sheffield University, he proudly used to regale the side of how he was clean bowled, first ball, by a young and speedy Fred Trueman in the early 1950’s in a pre-season game with Yorkshire, claiming he never saw the ball!
I was not part of the high class Marple first team of the 1960’s. However, this side, the most consistently successful in the club’s history, won the old Lancashire and Cheshire League title in several successive seasons throughout that decade. Peter played his part as an allrounder in a fabulous side led, at first, by the wily Jack Tighe. Frank Hayes was the most celebrated player in this team, but famous Marple names such as David Fox, Bill Jones, Mike Hibbert, Mike Williams, Mike Lee, Gerry Booth, Maurice Dodd, Jim Woodman, Chris Wood, Graham Hall, Terry Fleet and Ronnie Graham also featured prominently.
After Jack Tighe stepped away, it was basically a case of “take your turn” as captain for the other players. Peter took the reins in 1969, and duly delivered, with his undemonstrative style, another L&C title.
Inevitably, the 1960’s side broke up, but Marple then concentrated their efforts on joining the Cheshire County Cricket League in 1975. This move to join in with some excellent Manchester Association clubs probably helped Peter’s bowling. Grounds were generally bigger, the games longer, and with Peter not featuring with the bat as often, his classical style off spin became more significant.
He became a highly regarded member of Marple’s attack. Yes, the side could be infuriatingly inconsistent during the early years of the league, but Peter’s skills were a match for any “offer” in the league. On his day, he could dismiss the best players and sides. Being tall, with a high action, he spun the ball sharply, and on responsive pitches he also achieved disconcerting bounce. Left handed batters found him particularly tricky to face.
The arrival of Chris Lees as captain in the early 1980’s gave the side a more “professional” attitude, and there was no Marple player more delighted than when the team clinched its first, and only, first eleven title in 1987. Peter was past fifty by this stage, but he was one of five bowlers to take 25 or more wickets that season.
After this season, Peter gradually stepped down from first eleven cricket, but continued to play for the seconds and thirds until the 1990’s.
Here are a few stories from his career.
In one game against Brooklands at Bowden Lane, Marple were chasing a modest target, but collapsed. Peter ended up batting with number 10, Eddie Delaroute. Eddie was soon out, but Gerry Booth, at 11, was injured. Eddie was pressed into service as Gerry’s runner, as he was the only one still padded up. There was then the hilarious situation of all three padded up players running to the same end, and then all three following the ball to the non-striker’s end. By the time the run out was finally completed by the Brooklands wicketkeeper, there was barely a dry eye, such was the hysterical laughter, on and off the pitch! I believe Eddie Delaroute then raised Peter’s famous “mac” coat up the flagpole in “celebration.” The loss of the game was immediately forgotten.
In a game against Bowdon, also at Marple, Marple struggled to around 125 all out, after having been about 90 for 2. It was only at this point that visiting skipper John Savin had realised that the pitch was ragging square, and introduced his side’s potent twirlers. Stuart Graham was Marple’s captain that day, and he managed to persuade the umpires, and Savin, that a new ball was not required. He opened the bowling with Peter and the maverick leg-spinner Chris Wood, back at the club for in the twilight of his cricketing career. These two skilled craftsmen then sent the vaunted Bowdon batting line-up packing for just 40!
Peter was very much an idealistic and classical bowler. He would berate himself after games, if he felt that he had not bowled out the opposition on a helpful surface. The fact that the other bowlers had probably not bowled tightly enough would not affect his disappointment.
Sometimes he frustrated the captain. On one occasion, also on a helpful pitch, Chris Lees had set a field with six on the leg side and just three on the off. Peter then proceeded to bowl two arm balls at the start of the over which were gleefully carved away through the unguarded off side by the batter, much to Leesy ‘s frustration!
Peter was a diligent member of the club committee in for many of his years at the club. (More details needed on this aspect of his time at the club. I know he was a trustee for many years.)
After retiring from playing, Peter was a passionate supporter of the first eleven. He was frustrated during the dark years in the Meller Braggins league, but, nevertheless followed the team to some new and attractive venues within the county.
He could not have been more pleased when after promotions in 2007, 2010 and 2011, the side reached the Cheshire County Premier League. He was now a fully fledged member of the “Last of the Summer Wine” supporters group. He came to the home games often walking down from Mellor, or on the bus, but also travelled away with Mike Hibbert, Ernie Goulding, and occasionally Mark Brook to the terrific grounds in Cheshire.
It was only in the last few seasons that his lack of mobility prevented him travelling. He did, though, keep in touch with the games via the club’s frogbox system.
Peter hears the news that Marple 1st XI have recorded a much needed win.
Ron Graham
Ron would have been 80 next birthday.
Ron sadly he passed away at his home in Spain in the last couple of weeks, having just returned from his annual summer pilgrimage to the UK, where he was a regular visitor at local cricket grounds, such as Marple and Hyde CC.
An afternoon to celebrate his life will be held at Marple CC on Friday 25th September.
He was the eldest of three sons, born to Fred and May Graham. With Fred being passionate about sport, each of the boys excelled in various sports and games. Middle son Gordon was a fine rugby player, playing professionally with Salford RLFC.
Andrew was the youngest, and whilst a very talented batter, become a terrific footballer, playing at Wembly stadium in the FA amateur trophy final.
Ron was a fine cricketer. He was a strong fast-medium bowler who gained awkward bounce and lift, bringing the ball back into the right-handers. He played a valuable role as an opening bowler during the club’s heady days of the 1960’s.
The RAF took him away from Marple though at a relatively young age. After life as an RAF instructor, he settled to live in Spain, where he became passionate about Spanish cricket.
He returned “home” to Marple in later years, mainly to present the trophy, named after his father Fred Graham, to the winners of the Cheshire County League Cup competition. This cup competition later became the league’s T20 tournament, and has seen its winners go on to win not only regionally, but also nationally.
These summer visits for Ron were also a chance for him to renew acquaintances with old friends at Marple and Hyde cricket clubs especially. RIP
Mark Brook