The East End cricket community is mourning the loss of former St.David?s and St.George?s Cup Match all-rounder Legay Fanshaw Cannonier who passed away last week.

He was 62.

The brother of Edwin and current St.George?s coach George, the late Cannonier represented St.David?s in the popular Eastern Counties competition and St.George?s in Cup Match as a right arm fast bowler.

And according to long-time rival Rupert (Nick) Hollis, Cannonier could also ?hold his own with the cricket bat?.

Hollis, an off-spinner at Bailey?s Bay, claimed 26 Eastern Counties wickets at an average of 15.00 between 1965 and 1982.

The late Cannonier, who will be eulogised at the Alpha Memorial Chapel in St.George?s and then laid to rest at Chapel of Ease Cemetery tomorrow, also enjoyed playing football with St.George?s Colts.

Cannonier was a member of the all-conquering St.David?s county team that held the cup for 15 years before losing it to Bay in 1973.

?He was certainly quick and knew how to make the ball stand up to the batsman,? recalled Hollis, a well-known fisherman in the Hamilton Parish community. ?I played against him many times but whenever I came to the wicket he had long been taken off the ball.

?St.David?s had a very powerful team back then and I remember we had a long run down there (at Lords) without any wins. I don?t think Legay played as long as players such as Wilbur Pitcher did. And I think I might have played more against his brother Edwin who I attended school with (at St.George?s Secondary).?

Younger brother George recalled: ?He was a big influence in my life when it came to sports. He and Edwin would open the bowling and I would be first change.

?I thought he was one of those who excelled at sports but did not receive the recognition they deserved. I have many fond memories of Legay captaining St.George?s? league team for a while. He also played football at St.George?s with my elder brother (Edwin) and I. I was very young in those days but I always wanted to follow in his footsteps.

?If there was anybody I wanted to be like it was him even though back then we had players like Dennis Wainwright, Lloyd James and Sheridan Raynor ? all those top names. They were all idols but I?d rather be like he was.?