Bermuda?s cricket fraternity are mourning the death this week of long-serving administrator Custerfield Crockwell who passed away on the weekend, aged 71, after a long illness.

Although known to many during his career in the Police Service, he was also recognised for the valuable contribution he made to cricket, serving in several positions with clubs, primarily Police Recreation Club and Bailey?s Bay.

In addition he also held executive posts with the Testimonial Committee, of which he was chairman, Bermuda Cricket Board and the Somers Isle Cricket League.

Long-time Police player Richard Austin paid tribute yesterday, noting how Crockwell had helped many officers in the service both in their development as policemen and in their involvement in cricket.

?He was the chairman of the Police cricket section for a number of years. He really instilled in us a winning attitude, especially those of us from the Caribbean,? said Austin.

?It was he who really made it easy for us to be accepted here, not only in sport but within the job. He helped bridge a lot of gaps between the Police and the community as far as cricket is concerned, especially the relationship between those of us at Police Club and Bailey?s Bay.

?I recall his pet saying when Police and Bailey?s Bay played each other during those years when Police were a prominent force and Bailey?s Bay were also . . . he consistently indicated that he could never lose because he had deep ties with both clubs.

?With him it wasn?t only about winning a game but he also stressed the importance to play the proper way, the correct way and he pointed out the value of remaining friends once the game was finished.?

Crockwell will be particularly remembered for his most recent role as chairman of the Testimonial Committee ? a committee which was organised to not only raise funds for charities but to assist ailing former players and help the further development of youth cricket on the Island.

For their yearly fund-raising game the committee brought in former Test players from abroad and the match became a major feature on the domestic calendar.

St. Clair (Brinky) Tucker, spokesman for the committee which folded three years ago after a dispute over playing dates with the two Cup Match teams that blocked an incoming tour headed by Sir Viv Richards, was another who recognised Crockwell?s contribution to the sport.

?We have lost a friend of cricket in particular, ? said Tucker, also a former policeman who worked with Crockwell for several years.

?He was the one who recruited me and others on the Testimonial Committee and we went on to enjoy many successful years of bringing what we viewed a unique event to the public.?

Tucker recalls becoming acquainted with Crockwell after joining the Police Force back in the early 1960s, pointing out that they got on well right away and the two remained close friends right up to his death.

?In addition to having a good working relationship with him he was a good friend, excellent father and a Police officer who the community at large seemed to be quite fond of,? said Tucker.

?He was heavily involved with several cricket clubs, the Cricket Board and the Somers Isle Cricket League. He travelled to Nassau three years ago and got a reward from the Government for having made such a large number of visits to that Island, somewhere between 50 and 100,? added Tucker.

?I always had a lot of respect for him and classified him as a good friend. He was also a boxer and Prison Officer before he joined the Force.?