TRIBUTES have been paid to a cricket stalwart who was dedicated to Colwall's club.

St James the Great Church, Colwall was full last Friday to mark a service of thanksgiving for the life of Barbara Joan Berry, who passed away on July 10 aged 91.

The funeral, attended by around 250 people, featured moving tributes by her sons and grandsons to a quiet, but immensely loyal lady, who had given support to the family and club she loved for almost three generations.

After marrying cricket fanatic George Berry in 1951, Mrs Berry hardly missed a cricket match at Colwall, making teas, welcoming visitors and supporting the team.

Born on March 19, 1928 and brought up in the nearby village of Wellington Heath, Mrs Berry, like many of her peers left school at 14 and spent her teenage years working, notably in school catering.

It was her love of dancing that brought her into contact with Colwall's Berry family and the love of her life, George.

She never yearned for anything other than the simple village existence she enjoyed and her involvement in cricket. This only increased when sons, Adrian, John and later Kim came along, who are still involved with the club.

Mrs Berry's cricketing idyll suffered a shattering blow in 1977 when George died suddenly from a major heart attack, but her loyalty to his cricketing legacy never wavered.

One of her proudest moments occurred in 2002 when the Midland Club Cricket Conference recognised her contribution by presenting her with a 'Service to Cricket' award.

The cricket club are planning to mark her passing with a fitting memorial.