Bermuda lost a true cricket ambassador this week with the death of long-serving former administrator Dudley Ebbin who was buried yesterday.

A lover of the sport since his childhood Ebbin, who was in his 64th year, never really played the sport after leaving elementary school but was still able to make a significant impact by serving in the capacity of president of both Flatts Victoria Club and the former Somers Isle Cricket League for many years. He was also an executive officer of the Bermuda Cricket Board of Control for a period - combined he gave these organisations more than 20 years of dedicated service.

For his enormous contribution to cricket Ebbin was one of three people chosen to be honoured during the Cricket Testimonial next month and yesterday officials of the organisation vowed to proceed with the plans despite his passing.

Randy Butler, secretary of the Bermuda Cricket Umpires Association, had worked with Ebbin over the years and recognised what he had accomplished as an administrator.

"I had the privilege of serving with him on the Somers Isle Cricket League. He was the president and I was the assistant secretary," he said. "Dudley was a very enthusiastic person in promoting the game of cricket and the league at the time was very strong because it was during a period when we had an influx of workers from the West Indies, primarily policeman."

He said many people in the Caribbean would remember Ebbin from his involvement as an administrator and also as a regular visitor to Test matches.

"Naturally to say the Bermuda Cricket Umpires Association offers our condolences to his family. He will indeed be a miss to the sport of cricket in the Island,'' he said.