Glamorgan Cricket was saddened to hear of the passing over the weekend of Brian Shackleton, a stalwart both of Abergavenny CC and Glamorgan County Cricket Club.
Brian was ‘Mr. Abergavenny’, playing with distinction as a free-scoring batsman for the town’s cricket team, besides astutely leading his beloved club to plenty of success in their ventures in, amongst others, the Three Counties League.
Known to all as “Shack”, he was educated at Llandovery College where he won honours in both cricket and rugby before joining his family’s pharmacy business, with Brian managing the operation of their chemist’s stores in and around Abergavenny.
Brian also served for many years on the Glamorgan committee, and together with his late wife Barbara, oversaw the annual County Championship matches which Glamorgan played at Abergavenny during the 1980s and 1990s. From his home, adjacent to the ground, Brian and Barbara carefully planned the fine detail of the annual Festival at the Avenue Road ground, in addition to providing bed and breakfast for the visiting umpires!
Their reward was a large turnout each year by supporters of Glamorgan and the visiting teams, plus many marquees crammed full of members from the local business community - all of whom were only too eager to support their colleague and friend - as well as visits by the cricket correspondents of the national newspapers. It was also to Brian’s credit that many of the well-known journalists found their visits to the picturesque Abergavenny ground far more appealing than covering a Test Match.
Through Brian’s efforts and enthusiasm, the Abergavenny club also generously supported a number of Glamorgan beneficiaries, as well as those from Warwickshire and Worcestershire with games against an Abergavenny XI or celebrity team.
On hearing of Brian’s death, Hugh Morris, CEO of Glamorgan Cricket said “Brian contributed so much to Glamorgan and Abergavenny cricket over so many years. His infectious enthusiasm and good humour will be missed by all who knew him. We send our sincere condolences to Brian’s family and wide circle of friends in Wales and beyond.”