I am indebted to Martin White for the obituary below:
Cricket in the region has suffered a massive blow with the sudden death of Gordon Rayner.
He was taken to West Suffolk Hospital last Tuesday after being found unwell at his Hengrave home and died on Friday. He was 81.
For nearly 30 years, Gordon served with distinction as an umpire on the Two Counties’ Championship panel and in the early days had officiated games in the Dairytime League (now Medite) and the Suffolk Premier League whose fixtures were played on Sundays. He was highly respected by players and his calm exterior often diffused what could have turned into an awkward situation.
His experience and quiet, courteous manner helped many new umpires to become more confident and he acted as a mentor and helper to many. Always ready with advice when asked, Gordon often looked at both sides of the question before delivering an accurate and understandable explanation.
He later helped John Goldsmith arrange the youth fixtures for the popular and long-running Culford School tournament and until fairly recently had also officiated the school’s first XI matches after ending his association with league cricket and it became something he thoroughly enjoyed.
Gordon also played a vital role in helping Tom Smith with the appointment of umpires to all the Suffolk County youth games and dealing with call-offs and reappointments where necessary and had already committed himself to continuing that role next season.
In his cricketing days, Gordon was an opening batsman for Ampton and Culford and when he realised his career in that department was coming to an end he turned to umpiring the game he loved.
While his health had not been as good as he would have liked for some time, he never complained took each day in his stride and was always cheerful.
In 2002 he served for three years as chairman of the Suffolk Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers and remained a loyal member, always attending meetings and often in the company of his great friend, Alan Beazer.
He served for many years as one of the Association’s members of the Two Counties’ disciplinary panel and his experience in that role shone through as up to his death he had been performing a similar task for the Suffolk FA, of whom he was a past chairman and an honorary life vice-president.
Gordon was a gentle, kind, caring and humorous individual who will be sadly missed by all those who had the privilege of coming into contact with him and the Association’s thoughts are with his sister, Barbara, son Adrian and his family.
Martin White