Tributes have been paid to Bradford & Bingley Cricket Club chairman Peter Whitehead, who has died in hospital aged 78.

Secretary Colin Chapman, a friend from their university days at Nottingham, said: “Peter played golf at Northcliffe, tennis and squash at Heaton and cricket and football in his younger days, but cricket was his main love.

“I will remember him for his dedication to the cricket club. It really became his life. I don’t think anyone appreciated the amount of time he put into the club.

“One of his great passions was to encourage junior cricket. I can only imagine the amount of work he gave in setting up the outdoor nets, opened three years ago, and the fund-raising and bidding for grants that the project entailed. He will be missed.”

Born at Ilkeston, Whitehead graduated with a law degree from Nottingham University and was articled to the clerk of Nottingham justices.

He then became clerk in the Newcastle justices department before moving to Keighley as magistrates clerk in 1966.

From there he moved to become clerk to the Leeds magistrates – one of the major justices jurisdictions in the country.

He became involved with Bradford & Bingley CC as a junior parent and joined the committee before becoming chairman.

He leaves a wife, Anne and adult children, Mark, David and Julia.