DUNFERMLINE and Carnegie Cricket Club lost a stalwart at the weekend with the death of Tom Gibson.

Tom, 72, who had been ill for some months, died on Friday night at Ninewells Hospital, in Dundee.

Tom had been part of the McKane Park scene since the late-1960s when he joined as a schoolboy, and over half a century he was to serve the club as an excellent batsman, occasional off-spin bowler, captain and president.

He learned the game at Strathallan School, in Perthshire, and after completing his education at Newcastle University, he became a solicitor with Malcolm, Jack and Matheson, in Dunfermline.

Tom was also a good hockey player and spent the winters playing for Carnegie at Pitreavie, and summers at McKane working his way into the Fifeshire side.

He was to spend two decades scoring many runs for Fife in the Scottish Counties Championship and he took over the captaincy in the 1980s, a time when he developed interest in the administration of the club before becoming president.

During his presidency, the club started to engage professionals again for the first time since the 1960s, and a string of quality players were attracted to the club as pros.

Even latterly, when his health was declining, he would be found travelling to places such as Melrose and Dunbar to support the club in their successful bid to win East League Division Four.

Tom was also current chairman of the McKane Park Trustees, who factor the cricket area and First XV rugby pitch at the ground.

On the hockey front, he skippered Carnegie for many years, seeing the team do well in the initial stages of the National League structure in Scotland as the club became a strong Division Two side.

He was a regular supporter of the club up to his death and could often be seen at Woodmill High school for home games and also at some away games and it was a proud moment for him when the first 11 won their way into the Scottish Premiership for the first time in the club’s history last season.

Away from cricket and hockey, Tom was also a lifelong Pars fan and was in the Norrie McCathie Stand at home games last season.

Tom’s death saw a host of tributes appear on the cricket club’s Facebook page.

Current club president Martin Honeyford said: “A very sad day for the club.”

The club’s top all-rounder, Vasu Reddy, commented: “Tom was a legend of McKane. Dunfermline CC is going to miss him a great deal. I am sure many other clubs will have a story about Tom which will bring a smile to faces.”

And the Scotland scorer, Kenny Nisbet, who was the scribe at McKane Park for 25 years, said: “A very sad day and truly the end of an era.

“There will be many stories and reminiscences that will be in people’s minds about Tom.”

Tom is survived by wife Nancy.