Brian Scovell, author of 19-90 Jim Laker, recently drew a revealing memory from long-time Grace Road guv’nor Mike Turner. “I invited Jim to speak at my benefit dinner when I retired as chief executive from Leicestershire and he was held up by a pile-up on the M1. He and his wife Lilly arrived in time for pudding and Jim insisted on going ahead and making his speech. I asked him about some expenses and he said he wouldn’t dream of it. When Jim arrived home he found his house was ransacked by burglars, who took most of his memorabilia, and one of Lilly’s parents had died that same night. He was a good friend and a great guy.”

Less flattering to Jim’s memory was the theft last year of his photograph from The Oval pavilion. The thieves have not been traced; worse, the photo has not been replaced.

The Wisden Cricketer, Rob Steen