SIXTY ONE years of loyal service by one man to his local cricket club has been marked at an awards bash with England players past and present.

Percy Salmon’s lifelong love affair with High Beach Cricket Club has made him the soul of the team who play at Pepper Alley in Mott Street.

Last week, cricket legend Graham Gooch and England opener Alastair Cook were at Chelmsford cricket ground to see Percy collect a long-service award for his long innings, from the Essex County cricket board.

Today, 81-year-old Percy is the sole survivor of the group who resurrected High Beach Cricket Club in 1948, after World War II.

He has been an ever-present since, first as an all-rounder who relished derby clashes with rivals Upshire, and then as number-one fan and odd-job man.

And when he finally upped stumps and became a spectator, Percy made sure that cricket fans across the world knew about the minnows who play in Division Two of the Herts & Essex Cricket League.

He always took his big banner emblazoned with the club’s name with him when he went overseas to watch the England team on tour.

It irked broadcaster Sky Sports to see it hung over hoardings behind the wicket time and time again, but locals in High Beach loved it.

Talking to the Guardian this week, Percy said: “I was over the moon to get the award. I was born and bred in High Beach. I will not stop at the club until I’m taken off to my plot in High Beach churchyard.”

Percy’s passion forged him a bond with umpiring legend Dickie Bird.

They watched England play in Australia, Sri Lanka and the West Indies between 1994 and 2005.

“He (Dickie) used to help me put my banner up. We got on very well together and talked about all sorts of things, not just cricket,” recalled Percy.

Club chairman Paul Smith said: “I would see the ‘High Beach’ banner quite regularly, sitting watching Sky. Percy is a real stalwart of the club. The place would not be the same without him, he’s a one-off.”