A LOWTON-BORN cricketer has been honoured by Lancashire County Cricket Club more than 80 years after he was tragically killed in the Second World War.
Peter Eckersley began playing cricket at Leigh Cricket Club before joining Lancashire in 1923 and becoming their captain.
He played for the Red Rose for 11 seasons, leading Lancashire to two County Championships before retiring to pursue a career in politics.
Having unsuccessfully fought Leigh in 1931, Eckersley was elected at the 1935 general election as Conservative MP for Manchester Exchange.
He and his wife were members of the Lancashire Aero Club and Eckersley regularly flew himself to cricket matches, becoming known as the 'Flying Cricketer'.
Eckersley joined the Fleet Air Arm at the outbreak of World War Two and was based at HMS Raven where he was in training. He was killed in a flying accident along with trainee gunner Sidney Snow whilst on active service after his plane crashed at Worthy Down, Winchester on August 13 1940.
On Tuesday, September 6, a memorial to Eckersley was unveiled at Emirates Old Trafford during the lunch break of the County Championship game between Lancashire and Yorkshire.
The ceremony was attended by Will Eckersley, grandson of Peter, as well as the family of Sydney Snow.
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