Terry Holt by Michelle Holt

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Player:

TG Holt

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DateLine: 21st December 2023

 

A true Lancashire legend is being mourned by his many family, friends, ex-pupils, cricketers and sportsmen.

 

Terry Holt (78), passed suddenly, but peacefully, on the 3rd December, 2023, at Asquith Hall Care Home, Todmorden, following a long battle with Alzheimer's.

 

Terry will be well known to many in the cricket and coaching world as a talented cricketer, motivational coach and inspirational teacher.

 

Schoolboy cricket was the beginning of Terry's love for the sport, having captained Rossendale Schools in 1961, when they were beaten by Blackburn in the final of the inter-town competition.

 

Terry played for the North of England under 15s cricket team where he notably kept wicket, alongside the renowned Alan Knott who, at that time, was keeping wicket for the South of England team and went on to play for Kent and England.

 

Between 1964 to 1977 the Lancashire Cricket League benefited from Terry's skilful participation, where he played in 102 matches, with 87 innings, 9 not outs, 1,024 runs, and a highest score of 104.

 

Terry was a member of the Rawtenstall team which won the double in 1976.

 

Having won the Worsley Cup on the 8th August they then went onto win the Lancashire League Championship, (with Terry securing a career best of 104).

 

The match at Worswick Memorial Ground, went down in Lancashire League lore as the first time in Rawtenstall's club history they had won the double.

 

By November, 1979, Terry was installed as the new Chairman of the Lancashire Schools Cricket Association.

 

At the time Terry was Head of the Physical Education Department at Fearns County Secondary School, Stacksteads.

 

As a former Rawtenstall Cricket Club player, Terry had been secretary of the Rossendale Schools Cricket Association for the previous eight years and was, therefore, able to bring much knowledge and experience to the role.

 

In 1987 Terry visited Denmark to research ways in which they were enabling disabled persons to participate in sports.

 

Remember this was a time before events such as the Paralympics and Terry was keen to get the physically and mentally handicapped out of the home and into a sports hall.

 

By 1993 Terry had set-up the new Saturday Sports Scheme, which was the first of its kind in Lancashire and even the country, at that time.

 

By 1997 Terry had taken early retirement from teaching and transferred his many skills to Lancashire County Cricket Club taking on the role of Manager and Head Coach for the new Indoor Cricket Centre at Old Trafford.

 

This really was the highlight of Terry's working life where he had the opportunity to not only setup the new Centre's systems and processes but also use his leadership, motivational and coaching skills to develop new staff and young people using the Centre.

 

Terry made some lifelong friends at Old Trafford and would often recount memories of their times together.

 

Travel had always been a major part of Terry's life loving nothing better than taking his family off on trips across Europe to sample the delicious food and wine and soak up the sun.

 

So, it was no surprise that he decided to merge his love of travel and sport by taking on the role of Head Coach for the Cyprus Junior Cricket Team in 2007.

 

By 2009 Terry was working with the adult National Team and was influential in Cyprus hosting and winning the ICC Division 4 Championships.

 

By 2015 Terry had taken on the role of Director for Junior Golf in Cyprus, where he worked hard to develop the team and arrange many European and UK trips to various competitions.

 

Ever the teacher / coach Terry began to work closely with Myerscough College in Preston arranging development events for the visiting Cypriot Juniors.

 

Sadly, in 2017 Terry began to suffer from what was later diagnosed as Alzheimer's Disease and by 2020 his long relationship with all things sporting came to an end, when, with his wife Michelle, he returned to the U.K. to seek treatment.

 

Whilst Terry leaves his beloved wife, children, family and friends behind - he also leaves a wealth of wonderfully happy memories to help ward-off the sad times.

 

I'm sure you will all agree with me when I say Terry will remain in the hearts of those whose lives he touched for a very long time.

 

Terry Holt - Simply The Best.

 

Terry's funeral will take place on January 3rd at 3.15pm at Burnley Crematorium followed by a celebration of Terry's life at Lowerhouse Cricket Club.