THREE stalwart members of the Dales Council Umpires’ Association, who had 39 years’ service between them, stood down at their annual meeting at Pudsey Congs.

Colin White, who began his tenure as secretary in 2001; Steve Wilkes, who has been chairman and appointments’ secretary since 2004, and treasurer Mick Edwards, who took over in 2011, will be hard shoes to fill.

White, who admitted to a tinge of sadness in vacating his role, admitted that it had taken over not only his life but also his spare bedroom.

He said: “Thankfully I was never involved with umpire appointments, but worked with some admirable people who did that arduous task – Dennis Marsden, Stan Stafford and Ray Keeling.

“But then came the master juggler. The aforementioned three had an abundance of umpires to choose from. Stephen Wilkes has never had that luxury.

“Umpiring is a delight not a chore so I shall continue until I am not of sound body and mind.”

Wilkes said that he had appointed umpires to about 6,300 games since the start of the 2004 season “that we have had with two umpires or one, give or take a dozen games that have had none, which is not a bad result” .

He added: “To say that I have loved every minute would be a lie – it’s been a challenge, but enjoyable in a certain way.

“When I took over the appointments’ secretary’s job from Dennis Marsden in 2004, the only advice Dennis gave me was ‘Just put names to games. It’s so easy’. I can tell you now, it’s not as easy as that.

“You have to take into account the situ of the ground and which umpires can get to these grounds, which umpires have their own transport and which ones don’t, which umpires need to be together and which ones don’t, and which umpires are prepared to stand alone.

“Also it would be no good sending Mr (Michael) Payne, who lives in Burley-in-Wharfedale, to Sands Lane in Dewsbury.

“It would probably take him all day, depending on the condition of the roads, volume of traffic or roadworks.”

Wilkes thanked his colleagues White and Edwards, and concluded: “But my biggest thanks go out to you – the gentleman of cricket, because cricket isn’t cricket without umpires. You have performed without fear or favour, so thank you all.”

Wilkes was elected as the DCUA president, replacing Brian Tearle, who is not only standing down from that role but also from umpiring.

Tearle and Keith Dibb, whose 30 years’ umpiring was not as long as Tearle’s, were elected as vice-presidents, while Trevor Heylings has moved up from vice-chairman to chairman, with Andrew Shackleton being the new vice-chairman, replacing Dibb.

Maria Vasudev is the new secretary and appointments’ secretary, while Bob Pritchard has been added to the general committee, replacing Dave McDermott, and Alan Kaunz has become a life member.

Another umpire to retire is Peter Wilkes, whose 40 years’ service has come with three different leagues.