KIDDERMINSTER Cricket Club's Chester Road ground now has a memorial to award-winning groundsman Denis Jones.

A bench dedicated to the man responsible for preparing the club's wickets has been sited at the ground by Chester Road Sporting Club. Denis Jones' son Steve, Basil D'Oliveira and sister-in-law Sue Ballinger. Seated is his widow May holding her late husband's posthumous commendation for his groundsmanship.

Mr Jones, who was in charge of the ground from 1985, died aged 63 last year. He was regarded as one of the country's top groundsmen and scooped a number of national awards.

New Zealand cricket legend Sir Richard Hadlee said he wished he could take the wicket across the world with him after playing on it with Nottinghamshire in 1987.

Mr Jones' family gathered at the ground along with former Worcestershire and England cricket hero Basil D'Oliveira to see the bench installed.

Sporting Club chairman Ray Wall said: "The bench has been sited next to the scorebox where Denis's ashes are scattered and we are grateful for the support of Basil D'Oliveira who was a great friend of Denis and played for the club when he was qualifying for the county."