FAMILY and friends of former Wiltshire Times sports editor Mike Bristow gathered in Trowbridge on Saturday to celebrate his life.

The event at Trowbridge Cricket Club was organised by his daughter Emily Bristow and brother Peter Bristow.

The date was booked by the family months ago to celebrate what would have been Mike's 70th birthday but sadly he died on January 21 this year. Mr Bristow had spent many a happy hour with his friends at the club.

Emily, who now lives in Eastbourne, brought along her two children, Ella,13, and Jayden, 10, to meet family and friends.

Mr Bristow, 69, was a truly traditional journalist who joined the Wiltshire Times and its sister paper the Gazette & Herald after leaving school as a teenager, and never worked anywhere else. During his long career he covered every sport.

Miss Bristow said: “It was very nice. A few people came along. Since moving away, I have not seen any of the people for many years.”

Des Gingell, president of Trowbridge Cricket Club, was one of Mike's friends who attend, along with Peter Dunn and Geoff Edwards.

Mr Gingell, of Trowbridge, said: "I knew Mike and his family very well. Mike's dad, Ron Bristow, was a train driver and so was I. Sadly, Ron died, aged 91, a few months before Mike.

"I was also a groundsman for the cricket club for about 20 years and Mike used to come down to cover the cricket matches.

"In those days, we hosted international teams from West Indies and Australia twice, Pakistan and India."

"India played here in a three-day match which gave the Trowbridge Cricket Club, first class status."

Mr Bristow was a keen cricketer, who captained the club's Sunday second team, and also supported Somerset Cricket Club at Taunton.

He was also an avid pub quiz enthusiast. Mr Gingell said: "He was the best member of our team."