YORKSHIRE cricketing great Bryan Stott has recorded his memories in an online historical archive.

Mr Stott contributed to the website Back-Chat which was set up by Aireborough local historian Carlo Harrison. Mr Harrison said their chat had generated “lovely feedback”.

He added: “Bryan is one of the most charming people you are ever likely to meet.

“Locally, Bryan is known through his family businesses in Yeadon and Rawdon, Stotts Plumbers and Stotts Outfitters.

“On a much wider field Bryan was a well-known and respected Yorkshire County Cricketer who, in his own words, had a unique - if non-conformist - style of batting. It was a batting style peculiar only to Bryan and it worked.

“A Yeadon boy who was just five years old at the start of WW2, Bryan has lots of stories to tell.”

“You must listen to the stories about Bryan’s grandmother, a truly unbelievable and generous woman, way ahead of her time. So, if you want to know how a county cricketer is made, it starts at the age of two.”

Mr Stott was born in 1934 in a room above the family shop in Yeadon. He grew up in the town and still lives there.

He played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club throughout his career in the 1950s and 1960s. He also played three first-class matches for the Combined Services.

He was a childhood friend of former Yorkshire and England captain Brian Close, who died in 2015. The two men met at Rawdon Cricket Club in1943.

He is pictured with Mr Close and with cricketing legend Hedley Verity’s son Douglas for a presentation of a framed photograph at Rawdon Cricket Club.

He described it as “A much appreciated and very humbling experience to be allowed to share the space with these two iconic Yorkshire and England cricketers.”

Mr Stott also played an important role in the life of Yeadon Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society, serving as the group’s president from 2010 until 2017.

Stepping down after seven years at the helm Mr Stott said: “Sheila and I were delighted and honoured to be appointed president and lady president of the Society in 2010, and we can honestly say that it has been a wonderful and memorable part of our lives.

Visit https://back-chat.org.uk to hear the interview.

Mr Harrison set up the website as a free community archive and is building up the number of recordings.