A special guard of cricket bats was used to honour a well-known member of the Torbay sporting fraternity and community.
The bats were held aloft by members of Barton Cricket Club as the coffin of their president, Chris Buck, entered the chapel at Torquay crematorium for his funeral.
Chris, who had been a lifelong member and supporter of the Cricketfield Road club, died just before Christmas, aged 78.
The eldest of five children, Chris was born in 1946 in Stoke Climsland in Cornwall to Evelyn and John Buck but moved to Torquay shortly after.
Chris had a happy childhood growing up with his four siblings, Malcolm, Martin, Richard, and Janice. A proud moment in Chris’s early years was being christened by the chaplain to the King—a story surrounded by mystery, as no one quite understands how or why the chaplain was in Cornwall, but it certainly gave Chris a regal touch.
School days for Chris were spent at Barton Junior and then Audley Park, where his love of sport began. Cricket, golf, football, and Formula 1 racing were among his favourites, but he would watch pretty much any sport if given half the chance.
Having joined Barton Cricket Club when he was 18, Chris became more than just a player but a key figure in the club’s success. Over the years, he served as a committee member, treasurer, and secretary and eventually became their president, as well as stepping up at times to be the barman and chief bottle washer in the clubhouse bar.
In the mid-1960s, Chris met wife-to-be Mary at St Martin’s Church Youth Club at Barton. They were married in 1967 at St Marychurch Parish Church.
The couple settled at 14 Barton Hill Road, which, although they didn’t know it back then, was to become their “forever” home. They were both delighted when they became parents, firstly to Debbie in 1969 and then to Ian in 1972.
Chris’s entire career was spent at the old SWEB electricity company, starting as an apprentice and working his way up to be an Electrical Engineering Manager.
Hard-working and dedicated, he received a certificate for not having a single day off sick in 15 years. He still made time for his family, balancing work and his home life and, of course, time spent on the cricket pitch.
Chris was one of a handful of Barton Cricket Club Committee members who helped drive big projects along at an exciting time in the club’s history. An indoor net, extending the clubhouse to join the old and new buildings together, and the engagement of an overseas professional—the first in Devon cricket—were all key decisions taken that propelled the club to the top of the league for many years and created an excellent club with a family-run feeling.
It was a fitting tribute that Chris was Club President after selflessly giving up so much time over many years.
Chris was the last surviving member of this group, and the hope is that his legacy can be continued for generations to come.
He was also interested in aviation for many years too. He loved a day out at an air show too and collected many folders of aviation magazines, which he later donated to a Cornish aviation museum.
About eight years ago, Mary’s health began to decline, but Chris stepped up to care for her without hesitation. He took on the cooking, cleaning, and shopping—tasks no one had expected him to master but which he took in his stride, proving his incredible love and devotion for his wife.
At the end of last year, when Chris became ill, the family took the difficult but necessary decision to move Mary into full-time care at Mount Tryon, where she settled in quickly. Earlier this year, Chris also moved into Mount Tryon, where he quickly became a favourite of the caring staff with his wit and charm.