TRIBUTES have been paid to Northern Cricket Club legend Dr John Winter who has died at the age of 90.

A life member and former captain and president, the prolific batsman first played for the club in 1937.

In 1955 he accumulated 1,423 runs in 22 innings, including eight centuries and averaged 89, to set a new Liverpool Competition record for the most runs in a season.

That mark stood for over half a century and Winter was at the club to congratulate Northern’s Carl Hey when the record was finally beaten in 2007.

Geoffrey Davis, a former president at the Crosby club, said: “I first came across Dr Winter about 40 years ago when he was in his later years of playing cricket, and I also knew him through playing golf. He was a wonderful batsman and probably could have made county standard.

“He held the record for the most runs scored in a season for something like 50 years and even though there were professionals playing in the league, he more than held his own.

“John was afforded a special dinner three or four years ago when we honoured the legends of the club. He was a wonderful man and liked enormously by so many people.”

Winter, who was a consultant radiologist at Walton Hospital, also played rugby for Waterloo and was a former captain at Formby Golf Club.

Brian Lewis, a former captain at Northern, said: “He was a calm man, with a magnificent, dry sense of humour – he was very entertaining and a great man to play cricket with.

“He really understood and read the game well and he was one of the very best Liverpool Competition batsmen.

“He was very respected in the club. He was a fantastic sportsman, very good company and a hell of a nice guy.”

Winter is survived by his wife Joyce and his funeral will take place on Tuesday, November 24 at St Nicholas Church, Blundellsands at 12.30pm.