Blog Post

Vernon Heath

Simon Vigar • 9 June 2020

1932-2020

It is with great sadness we learned of the death of Vernon Heath, a Vice President of Fernhurst CC and one of our staunchest supporters. Our thoughts are with Vernon’s family and the tribute here has been written by his nephew Graham Heath. You will see near the end an incredibly generous decision by the family towards the club and they have our thanks. 

“In his playing days Vernon would cycle miles to get a game. He loved both cricket and football. Later, he would tour the area on his motorbike or by coach to the local dances.
He was born in Henley, one of six boys, in 1932. He went to school in Easebourne and moved to Fernhurst during the war. Vernon worked for ICI, formerly Plant Protection Ltd (PP to the locals) all his working life, growing plants for research, chrysanthemums and tomatoes for the market.
Vernon enjoyed cricket, football, fishing and chatting, particularly to ladies! If you wandered down to the pavilion to watch cricket Vernon, inevitably, could be found smiling and laughing in the company of his friends. He played cricket for Plant Protection Ltd and would always much rather be doing that than working. A trip to Fratton with him to watch Pompey and meet up with colleagues and friends on the terrace was always fun. Occasionally we would join the coach for an away match at Charlton or venture off to the Goldstone Ground. In a recent conversation with an old friend, cheese rolling in Easebourne was mentioned as something that happened annually. In 50 odd years that was the first time it had been mentioned. What was going on?!
The private funeral will be on June 23rd with the cortege driving through the village and past the Rec one last time. Vernon's daughter Karen asks that in place of flowers, donations are instead made to the cricket club. 
Given the current rules and guidance with respect to Covid-19 the family is tentatively planning a get together for October 13th which would have been Vernon’s 88th birthday.”
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