RHC LIONS

It is with great sadness we announce that David Bradshaw has tragically drowned while on holiday in Turkey, at the age of 27. Here, the club's President Arnie Sathiy pays tribute to a true Corstorphine Legend...

David Bradshaw arrived in our midst at the mid-point of our 2006 season, coming to us from Monash Gryphons in Melbourne where he met Lamby and Westy on a year out.

A genuinely talented keeper and better-than-average bat, Skinny, as he was known by one and all, was much more than a keeper; he was a dear friend to all he met. He worked tirelessly, in event management initially, often rushing away from Saturday games to get to work, before moving into the aparthotel industry. He was settling into life well in Edinburgh, buying a house with another club member in Edinburgh 18 months back.

David loved a leg side stumping and was known to stand up to almost all but the fastest of bowlers, fearless and lightning quick behind the timbers. The state of his fingers were testament to suffering for his art. His batting high point at RHC saw him once score 137 against Penicuik for our 2nd XI before the rain came, scratching the score from our fantasy league charts - much to the amusement of those around him in the bar. It is a massive shame he'll not be able to right that wrong in Scotland again, and score a further century or gun for five stumpings in an innings.

He will be sorely missed by one and all - particularly to some of our younger members who have been badly affected by this news. Cricket brought him friends for life and we look forward to talking long into many a night about tales of Skinny's days and nights out in Edinburgh and further afield.

David was holidaying in Turkey when he tragically drowned early on Sunday morning. For much of that day, RHC 1st XI players had wondered what he was up to as we played in the Murgitroyd T20 finals. He was missing, a given from our 1st XI team sheet, and a player who was more than a little responsible for getting us to the finals - putting particular pressure on opposition batsmen in the Masterton final less than a month ago.

We do not have any further details of what happened in Turkey as yet, but our thoughts are with his family back home in Australia - and the youngest of his two brothers, Owen, in particular. David will be flown home and laid to rest by his mother's side and, on these shores, we will announce details of a memorial shortly.

Our annual dinner has been cancelled as a mark of respect, and will be replaced by a commemorative wake at RHS in Barnton on Saturday October 3, from 7.30pm. All will be welcome, and a collection will be held to assist his friends and family in getting David's personal effects home.

Non-members and well-wishers are, of course, welcome. Should anyone have a memory of Skinny, or wish to donate or contribute to a Condolences Book that RHC will send to Skinny's home in Australia, please e-mail rhccricket@yahoo.co.uk with your thoughts.

http://www.gryphons.org.au/news/story.asp?storyid=250

http://sport.scotsman.com/cricket/Scotland-prospect-in-holiday-tragedy.5649849.jp

http://www.cricketscotland.com/DavidBradshaw