Hundreds say farewell to sporting legend Tyrone

Mourners gathered at Hastings Crematorium on Tuesday for the funeral of Tyrone Wildman, who had played for Sidley Cricket Club since 1974.

A procession of mourners walked from his wife Kathleen’s home in Elphinstone Avenue, Hastings, to the crematorium on The Ridge.

A speaker was set up outside so people could listen to the service as the chapel was packed.

Speeches and poems about Mr Wildman’s life achievements were made by his friends, including former Meridian newsreader Jonathan Mendenhall and Simon Reynolds, former Sidley Cricket Club member.

Representatives from many other cricket clubs attended, some from as far away as Worthing and Chichester.

Mr Wildman’s coffin bore floral tributes with the words ‘Husband’ and ‘Dad’ spelt out.

His wife of 33 years said: “It was nice that so many people from all walks of life came and remembered him, not just for his work but for all the different people he helped down the years.”

Mr Wildman, of Hopgarden Close, died suddenly of a pulmonary embolism, a blood clot on the lung on December 18. He was aged 59.

He excelled in a number of sports, notably bodybuilding and cricket.

He worked as a fitness instructor at Falaise Fitness Centre in Cambridge Road for 16 years and became widely respected for his sporting achievements.

He was British bodybuilding champion in 1982 and before that was the Southern Powerlifting champion.

Mr Wildman, originally from Kingston in Jamaica, competed in athletics and ran the Hastings Half-Marathon 12 times.

He played table tennis for Hollington Table Tennis Club and also played Sussex Cricket Club for the over-50s and 60s, which reached the national finals.

After the service a wake was held at Sidley Cricket Club and another one with a Jamaican theme at Venuu.

• DUE to a production error the two obituary notices left by the family of Tyrone Wildman were not printed in the announcements pages in last week’s Observer.

The Observer would like to sincerely apologise to Mr Wildman’s family for the mistake.