DISTANT relatives of the late Kent cricket legend Colin Blythe travelled to Canterbury to attend the annual memorial service at St Lawrence for the lives of county players who lost their lives in the two world wars.

Blythe, the most famous left-arm bowler of his generation, took over 2,500 first-class wickets and was instrumental in Kent winning their first championship title in 1906.

He was killed at Ypres on November 18, 1917 aged 38, having volunteered for active service and was one of 11 Kent players killed during the hostilities.

Their lives and those of Second World War veterans were remembered in a wreath laying service conducted by Cannon Chris Byers and attended by Blythe’s third cousins, Jennifer Norritt and John Watson, who travelled from Leicestershire for the occasion.

Cannon Byers said: “We are here to remember all those cricketers from Kent who gave their lives at war, but also to spend time remembering those who shared our enjoyment of cricket, like past presidents Brian Luckhurst and Don Beney.

“In these troubled times an occasion like this also makes a quiet statement about our way of life, our values and our faith.”

The service, which was held on the opening day of Canterbury Cricket Week, concluded with the wreath-laying by supporters’ club president Eric Bernardes and a bugler playing the last post.