Summary

  • The funeral of David "Syd" Lawrence MBE has taken place at St Mary Redcliffe Church in Bristol.

  • The former Gloucestershire and England fast bowler died last month after being diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in 2024.

  • Family, friends and former county and England team-mates gathered to remember the Gloucestershire-born cricketer, who became a legend for his home county.

Live Reporting

Edited by Steve Mellen, with Sammy Jenkins, Leigh Boobyer, Ali Durden, Ed Hadwin and James Diamond reporting.

  1. Lord's debut with Lawrence 'like a dream'

    David "Syd" Lawrence's teammate and friend Jack Russell reflects on his life.

    Former Gloucestershire and England player Jack Russell, from Stroud, said playing alongside Lawrence for the national team was "a bit like a dream".

    "You hope to play for England together, but you don't think you'll make your debut together and also make your debut at Lord's together.

    "It's the greatest stage of all to play on."

    "It was magic for us. He came from Gloucester, I came from Stroud. To end up on that stage together at the same time, for the first time - even now I pinch myself.

    "It was so special, it's hard to put it into words."

  2. Tufnell and Graveney arrive

    James Diamond
    BBC News, West of England

    Phil Tufnell outside the church in Bristol. He is shaking hands with someone, who is not pictured.

    A steady stream of guests have begun to arrive, including Lawrence's former teammates David Graveney and Phil Tufnell, the latter now a commentator for Test Match Special.

    Some are wearing the traditional all black, while others have donned more colourful outfits, encouraged to do so by the family.

    The order of service, designed to appear like a glossy magazine, has a photo of Lawrence in his cricketing whites on the front cover.

  3. 'A father first'

    Friend Valerie Sims describes her memories of David 'Syd' Lawrence.

    Lawrence's friend Valerie Sims described him as a "father first" and thanked him for raising awareness of charities and the work they do.

    Speaking in the park Lawrence used to play in as a young man, Ms Sims said he had left a legacy for the city of Bristol and his community.

  4. Current players will be unable to attend

    Gloucestershire wicketkeeper Cameron Bancroft appeals unsuccessfully for the run out of Sussex Shark's Tom AlsopGetty Images

    Lawrence's beloved Gloucestershire saw their defence of their first-ever T20 Blast title end in dramatic fashion last night.

    Needing to beat Sussex Sharks at Cheltenham College in their penultimate game of the group stage, Mark Alleyne's side suffered a four-wicket defeat off the final ball to end their hopes of qualification for the knockout stages.

    Today the players have the small matter of a trip to Taunton for a derby clash with Somerset (from 18:30 BST) to try and deny their old foes, who they beat in last season's final at Edgbaston, top spot in the South Group.

  5. 'A proud Gloucestershire man'

    David 'Syd' Lawrence. He is has brown eyes and short dark hair. He is pictured wearing a white cricket jumper with a stripe around the neck. He is looking at the camera and smiling.Getty Images

    Lawrence was born in Gloucester on 28 January 1964 to Jamaican parents.

    Said to have inherited his love of cricket from his father, he leaves behind his wife Gaynor and son Buster, a former professional rugby union player.

    In a statement announcing his death, his family said Lawrence "was a proud Gloucestershire man", who took on "every challenge he could".

    "His final contest with MND was no different," the statement said.

    "His willingness to encourage and think of others right up to the end was typical of the man he was," it added.

  6. Funeral to start at 14:00 BST

    The funeral is taking place today at St Mary Redcliffe Church in Bristol, starting at 14:00 BST.

    It is a public service, with a separate memorial service planned to be held on another day, the date of which is yet to be confirmed.

    The funeral will be followed by a wake at the County Ground on Nevil Road in north Bristol, where Lawrence made his name for Gloucestershire.

  7. Tributes from England

    England players line up to pay tribute to Syd Lawrence before the England v India Test match at Headingly. Syd is pictured on a large screen in the background and the grandstands are full of spectators. The players are wearing black armbandsGetty Images

    There have been many tributes to Lawrence since his death, not least from England's cricketers.

    The crowd and players from both teams took a moment to honour the former international during England's recent Test match with India at Headingley.

  8. Motor neurone disease diagnosis

    Sammy Jenkins
    BBC News, Live page reporter

    David 'Syd' Lawrence on living with MND

    The former fast bowler was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in June 2024 at the age of 60.

    It came after he was struggling to walk following a knee replacement at the end of 2023.

    By March of 2024 he was admitted to hospital, where he spent three months and was later diagnosed with MND, something he said had been tough to take.

    The rare degenerative condition affects the brain and nervous system and there is currently no cure.

    In an interview with BBC Breakfast in September, Lawrence said he had been inspired by Rob Burrow, the former England and Leeds rugby league player, who died from the illness.

    At the time, Lawrence said: "Rob Burrow said you’ve got to be brave, and you do.

    "Every day is a struggle, but we live to fight and enjoy the moments.

    "You have demons in your head but I choose to live life. That’s the only option," he added.

  9. A brief look at David 'Syd' Lawrence MBE's career

    Sammy Jenkins
    BBC News, Live page reporter

    England batsman David Lawrence collides with Sri lankan's Ranjith Madurusinghe in 1988.PA Media

    David 'Syd' Lawrence, was the first British-born black cricketer to represent England.

    Hailing from Gloucester, the man, affectionately known as 'Syd' after the British bandleader, made his first-class debut for his home county in 1981.

    He would later take 625 wickets in 280 matches during his 16-year-career.

    He also played five Test matches for England, his first, where he took three wickets against Sri Lanka at Lord's in 1988.

    Capable of reaching extreme pace, he did not play again for England until 1991 when he took 14 wickets across three Tests and played his sole one-day international the same summer.

    His career was later curtailed by a serious knee injury which he suffered while playing for England in New Zealand in 1992.

    He did return to his beloved sport, playing four times in the County Championship in 1997, but he did not play again in top-level cricket afterwards.

    After retirement he became a nightclub owner and amateur bodybuilder before being named Gloucestershire's club president in 2022, a role he remained in until his death.

  10. Welcome to our live coverage of David 'Syd' Lawrence's funeral

    Welcome to our coverage of the funeral of Gloucestershire cricket legend David "Syd" Lawrence, which is taking place in Bristol today.

    The fast bowler, who was the first British-born black cricketer to represent England, died last month.

    He was diagnosed with motor neurone disease last year.

    Syd, as he was affectionately known, was appointed an MBE in the King's Birthday Honours weeks before he died for his services to cricket.