Cricket match in memory of Jack Bland (From Basingstoke Gazette)
When news happens, text BAZ and your photos or videos to 80360. Or contact us by email and phone.
Cricket match in memory of Jack Bland
11:10am Friday 31st August 2012 in News By Chris Gregory
Buy this photo »
Josh Bland, Tim Bland, and Lorraine Bland
HUNDREDS of people turned out for a cricket match to honour an Odiham teenager who died when he was hit by a car.
The Jack Bland Memorial Match saw more than 400 people turn up at Odiham and Greywell Cricket Club on Monday. The 19-year-old died on September 11 last year after he was hit by a car while walking along the A287 to his home in London Road.
A side from Hook and Newnham Basics took on an Odiham team in a 40-over game, and beat them by four wickets. Jack, a keen cricketer and opening bowler, had played for both clubs.
Those at the game included Jack’s parents Lorraine and Tim Bland, his 21-year-old brother Josh, who played for Hook in the match, and scores of Jack’s friends.
Mr Bland, 59, told The Gazette : “It was quite emotional in some ways.
“Lorraine and I are just overwhelmed with the support that we had, including from the business community in Odiham. We did not have to look for raffle prizes, they just turned up.
“It went exceptionally well and it was a brilliant day.”
The day raised £3,000 for the Jack Bland Memorial Fund. The fund, set up in the weeks following Jack’s death, will close in October with the proceeds going to both cricket clubs to help pay for a redevelopment of both of their pavilions.
* Last month Henry Stangroom, of Rye Common, Odiham, was given an eight-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, after admitting dangerous driving. The court heard he did not realise that he had hit Mr Bland, but he continued driving with a damaged windscreen.
