Obituary Jeremy William Lloyds
This obituary for Jeremy was published by The Times on 22nd November 2022.
A competitor, magic guy, chatty umpire and friend to many’ – Jeremy Lloyds dies at 68
Elizabeth Ammon, Tuesday November 22 2022, 12.01am, The Times
Jeremy Lloyds, the former Somerset and Gloucestershire all-rounder who became one of the best-loved umpires in the first-class game, has died at the age of 68.
Lloyds was born on the Malaysian island of Penang in 1954 and educated at Blundell’s School in Tiverton, Devon. He was a relatively late starter in county cricket after a long stint as part of the MCC groundstaff at Lord’s. He received his first professional contract from Somerset in 1979, making his debut against Cambridge University.
He went on to play 100 first-class matches for Somerset and 62 one-day matches, including the 1983 Benson & Hedges final at Lord’s, before moving to Gloucestershire in 1985, playing 162 first-class matches before retiring in 1991.
An elegant left-handed batsman and right-arm off-break bowler, Lloyds scored more than 10,600 first-class runs, including ten centuries, and took 333 wickets, including best figures of seven for 88 against Essex in 1982.
After retirement, Lloyds was appointed to the ECB’s first-class umpires list in 1998. Then, between 2003 and 2006, he was on the ICC international panel, during which he umpired five Tests and 18 one-day internationals. He stepped down from the international panel in 2006, citing “family reasons”, but carried on umpiring in county cricket.
He officiated his final first-class match in September 2020, a County Championship game between his two former clubs, Somerset and Gloucestershire, at Taunton and was given a guard of honour by both sets of players.
In statements, both Somerset and Gloucestershire said they were “deeply saddened” by the death of their former player and there were tributes from present and former players on social media after the announcement.
Luke Wright, the new England head selector, wrote on Twitter: “So sad to wake up to the news of the passing of Jeremy Lloyds. One of my favourite umpires, always loved our chats and laughs before and during the games. I would often field at square leg when I was younger and he would always give me words of encouragement and the odd sweet! #rip.”
The former Warwickshire bowler Tim Munton wrote: “So sad to see the news about Jeremy Lloyds. Absolutely cricket through and through and a real competitor.”
Chris Adams, the former England and Sussex wicketkeeper, added: “Very sad, what a magic guy, a great man of cricket and a good friend to many. Will be sorely missed indeed — thoughts and hugs to all his family and to everyone at Somerset and Gloucestershire.”