Ex-hotel owner handed New Year Honour for cricket

A retired hotel owner who helps fund and bring cricket to state schools is among those from Lincolnshire on the King's New Year Honours list.

Geoffrey Hastings, 81, from Stamford, who is chairman of the Fred Trueman R66T State School Cricket League, has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) after more than 45 years of raising funds for charity and junior cricket.

He helped establish the league in 2005 to enable state schools across several counties to play hard-ball cricket free of charge.

"I'm very honoured. I haven't done this on my own, I've had a lot of help," Mr Hastings said.

Mr Hastings was in charge of his own cricket team when he ran Lady Anne's Hotel in Stamford, now known as The William Cecil Hotel, before he set up The R66T League with the late Fred Trueman.

The league was relaunched after the Covid-19 pandemic to include more than 87 schools across four counties.

It now operates in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire and Middlesex, with a pilot in Derbyshire.

"It's grown and grown and grown," Mr Hastings said.

Mr Hastings said every school that plays in the league is given a new cricket kit worth £500 as well as other funds to help support them take part in competitive cricket.

On why he does it, Mr Hastings said: "It's a team game and these youngsters don't have many chances of playing it.

"We are also trying to get the children doing something rather than watching their phones. It's good for their wellbeing."

Other people from Lincolnshire named on the honours list include:

• John Mackey, Burton upon Stather, North Lincolnshire, awarded a BEM for services to table tennis

• Emma Green, Stamford, nursery manager for The Little Lane Nursery, awarded a BEM for services to early years education

• Prof Simon Pearson, Boston, founding director of Lincoln Institute of Agri-Food Technology, University of Lincoln, appointed an MBE for services to agricultural innovation and education

• Heather Sandy, executive director of children's Services for Lincolnshire County Council, appointed a CBE for services to education

• Lucy Conley, lately chief executive officer for South Lincolnshire Academies Trust, appointed an MBE for services to education

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