KENT County Cricket Club lost one of its most passionate and dedicated supporters following the death of former county president Don Beney at the age of 90 on Monday.

Known almost universally among several generations of Kent players as "Uncle Don", Mr Beney died following a heart attack at his home near West Wickham and having battled colon cancer since late 2004.

Unflappable, dignified and so quietly courageous even in the face of his illness, Mr Beney will be remembered as the most willing of Kent committee men; a fellow supporter with a deep-rooted love for Kent cricket who never uttered a bad word over the club, its players or officials.

The county club's president of 1993 and one of only two vice-presidents in Kent history, he served Kent's general committee with tremendous distinction and was rightly proud to have never missed a meeting during his 18-year stint through to 1992.

He watched his first Kent game aged 11 at Blackheath in 1926, that same year he had taken nine for 11 for Clare House School, and in playing terms he went on to represent Kent Amateurs at The Oval as well as Beckenham Cricket Club.

Educated at St Lawrence College, Ramsgate, where he became sprint champion, victor ludorum and star bowler, he left to join the family's textile machinery firm of White Child and Beney only for his role as roving European salesman to be interrupted by the outbreak of war.

Called up to the RASC he rose to the rank of captain during active service in Northern Ireland, France, Germany and Norway before demobilisation.

He met his wife to be, Pam, whilst on tour of duty in Ireland and the couple were married at St Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh in 1941.

Following the cessation of hostilities Mr Beney re-kindled his love for cricket by becoming a founder member and treasurer of the Kent County Cricket Supporters'

Club.

In later life he took on roles as chairman of the Kent Cricket Youth Trust, president of Chislehurst and West Kent Cricket Club and, in 1974, was co-opted on to the general committee of the county club.

Mr Beney was one of the principal fund-raisers in helping to build the Colin Cowdrey stand at the St Lawrence Ground in Canterbury and went on to raise a grand total of almost £200,000 for numerous Kent beneficiaries.

From 1980 through to his retirement in 2003 Mr Beney organised benefit golf days at Royal Cinque Ports, Deal, and Chislehurst Golf Club to help boost the coffers of David Nicholls through to the final recipient, Mark Ealham.

As a mark of their respect Kent players past and present contributed to a "This Is Your Life" style album and presentation to celebrate 24 years of his commitment to the club's beneficiaries.

The proudest moment of Mr Beney's association with Kent cricket came in September 1992 when outgoing president, David Kemp, wrote inviting him to become Kent president for the following summer. A role he humbly accepted.

He later described his year in office as the: "The greatest honour one can get, especially as I'd come through the ranks so to speak."

He saw one of his last Kent matches among friends from the committee marquee at The Mote in June and rather fittingly his beloved side won inside three

days.

A gentleman cricketer, a sporting Corinthian of the highest calibre, a dedicated administrator and a devotee of the county club, it seems highly unlikely that St Lawrence will see his like again.

He is survived by his widow Pam, sons Robert and Stephen and six grandchildren Elizabeth, Tom, Andrew, Sophie, Orlando and Tristan.

Funeral details have yet to be announced.