Hill represented the club with distinction for over 13 seasons and scored over 4,700 runs with one century and 29 fifties as well as bagging 199 wicketkeeping victims (139 catches, 60 stumpings) and three run outs before bowing out at the end of the 2007 season at the age of 65.

He will forever be remembered as a character around the club and an absolute gentleman to team mates and opposition alike.

In a cup clash against a Barrow side featuring Vaughn Walsh he famously went to go out to bat against the West Indian quick without a helmet. Common sense did eventually prevail, but only after youngest son Elliot intervened and convinced his dad to wear the lid.

Hill was a character behind the stumps and was also a mentor to many of the youngsters who came through the club system prior to his retirement - with many from the 90s, where he was a regular in the Second XI, talking of the affection and regard in which they held the left-hander.

As well as cricket, he was a keen golfer and was very active within the Rotary Club, with a number of Rotary Club Ashes clashes taking place at Mill Lane.

He is survived by sons James and Elliot and their families. Everyone at the club passes on their condolences to the Hill family at this sad time.