Syd faced bigots and impressed Di

HOW QUICK BEAT ADVERSITY

- Mike Walters

ROCKING and rumbling, as Dave ‘Syd’ Lawrence used to describe his bustling persona, the promising fast bowler greeted visiting royalty with his customary genial warmth.

Voted Cricket Writers’ Club Young Cricketer of the Year for 1985, Lawrence collected his gong at the most memorable net practice the following year.

He said: “What made that award extra special was that it was presented to me by the patron of Gloucestershire Cricket Club - the Princess of Wales.

“Princess Diana had a tour of all the facilities, including watching us have a net. I was only jogging in off a few paces but she still thought I bowled extremely fast.

“As a result of her patronage, three people from the club were invited to her funeral at Westminster Abbey, and I was one. Jack Russell and Andy Stovold were the other two.

“We were sat directly behind a couple of Americans. One was Dr Henry Kissinger, a former US secretary of state, the other was Ruby Wax, a comedian, actress and writer.