BOTH my wife and I have been deeply touched by the loss of Doug Read who in his life was not only a true friend to us but also to the town of Dorchester and sport.

Apart from his family, his main love was cricket and despite his longstanding health problems he worked tirelessly for both the good of Dorchester itself, Dorchester Town Cricket and the Evening League. As everyone is aware it is mainly due to his sole effort (widely covered by the Echo at the time) that the Dorchester recreation ground stayed as a sports field and not as an extension to the cemetery.

It has been suggested that some tribute should be paid to this one-of-a-kind guy' and I would have thought the most fitting tribute would be to rename the recreation ground or pavilion after him.

Good on you Doug!

John & Margaret Kelly, Seamoor Close, Weymouth.

I was pleased to read the great tributes to Doug Read. At the Civic Society we also have so much for which to be grateful to Doug. John Reeby, who was chairman of the society some five years ago and persuaded Doug to become treasurer, expressed deep gratitude for the wonderful work carried out by him, despite his ill health.

Pru Bollam who is the custodian of Tudor House also expressed her gratitude to Doug for work carried out on their accounts.

Graham Rettie as treasurer of Nothe Fort will also feel a great loss for all Doug's help and endless hours of work carried out for the Nothe - and also to Judith, his wife, who was always at Doug's side helping him in every which way possible. She did the painstaking job of gift aid for The Nothe Fort for which we are eternally grateful.

Doug always had a smile or joke and was never at a loss for words on cricket after discussions finished on the accounts.

We will all miss him very much it was a privilege to have spent time with him, all be it too short!

Helen Rettie, Chairman, Nothe Fort.