Salt of the Earth: Howzat for a great all-rounder! Mark Hollingworth inspires team and village in Glaisdale, near Whitby

2020 has been a strange year. We have spent much more time at home than we could ever have imagined and slowly emerged from a cocoon like sleep having re-discovered the joys of spending time with our families.

The thing we have missed more than anything is social interaction. That time where we relax and unwind with people we choose to be with, simply because we enjoy their company and not because of any obligation created by birth.

Whether you are one of a group of friends meeting for a Monday morning coffee, or part of an organisation such as a regular gardening club, those times we spend with the people we care about allow us to recharge our batteries and improve our mental health.

Finding opportunities to be together can sometimes be organic, a chance meeting in the street may lead to tea and cake in an afternoon, but other opportunities are more structured, such as playing sports and being a member of a team.

Many who take part in recreational sport simply turn up and enjoy the activity, but as with a duck gliding on a river, unseen there is always a lot of work going on in the background.

This week’s Salt of the Earth is one of those people who works tirelessly behind the scenes to provide opportunities for others to relax.

Mark Hollingworth has been involved with Glaisdale Cricket Club since moving to the village in 2013. Team member Alex Burtt said: “I’d like to nominate Mark for all his work for Glaisdale Cricket club.

He’s only been associated with the club for a few years, starting as a playing member, but soon started helping out with the ground and preparing wickets.

He’s now been chairman for three years and is actively involved in all areas of running the club, especially the junior section, completely voluntarily. The amount of time he puts in is amazing and never complains.

Without him, I’m sure we wouldn’t be able to survive, he’s been a great asset to the club.”

A former managing director of David Brown tractors, Mark initially said he’d only play when the team were short. To date he thinks that means he’s played in all but three games for which he was available.

As chair, Mark has a tremendous input into the club, helping with the groundskeeping, training with the youth team and looking after the nets.

His positive outlook and encouragement has led to a number of people joining the club who may otherwise not have done so.

Lamorna Roberts, 17, said: “When I originally joined the club I was only changing scoreboards and taking pictures for the team.

“Mark was the person who encouraged me to play and get involved even though there were no other girls on the team at that time.

“I can say wholeheartedly I’ve never met a man as lovely as Mark.”

Talking to Mark, you instantly see the calm assuredness of a man who makes decisions for the benefit of those around him.

My first attempt at an interview had to be delayed while Mark ordered a TV for a neighbour who was struggling to do it online.

Mark, 58, said: “I’ve been involved with the cricket club since we moved here, bizarrely even before that, when we were in the process of moving in Mary Thompson (the former owner of Postgate Farm where Mark now lives) was trying to get me to play.

“I said I might be a bit past it, but if you’re short of players I’ll play. Wednesday evening I turned up and they said you’re in, and you’re playing Saturday as well!

“I love village cricket, the concept of local village teams playing against each other.

“Originally a player, I’ve spent the last 3 years as chair, my job is cutting the grass and rolling, Paul Bennison (better known as Jasper) does the more complicated seeding and fertiliser.”

Mark doesn’t just help with the cricket club, he’s also a member of the parish council after near neighbour Stuart Thompson asked him to put his name forwards

When asked if it’s time consuming Mark said: “ It depends how much you want to do, meetings are once a month, the parish council is actually responsible for very little, benches, grass cutting, the village green.”

Mark is currently campaigning to improve road safety in the village, hoping to install a path to link the top section of the village with the bottom.

He has recently applied for a grant to allow a pathway to be laid on a particularly nasty bend which provides access to the village tennis court.

He said: “I’m optimistic of getting the grant, but it will only cover a very small part of the work needed. It costs a staggering amount of money, but if we could do that piece it will make a big difference.”

Local auctioneer, Rob Smith, who lives in Glaisdale, gave an insight into how Mark gets things done, he said: “His organisational skills are really good, he’s good at taking things by the scruff of the neck, he empathises and listens well. He’s very measured and calm”

What is it that drives Mark? Why does he keep getting involved? He said: “It exercises the brain and I do get a lot out of it.

“I genuinely enjoy getting involved, like with the cricket club. I put a post on the Facebook page asking if people can help with something, like scarifying the pitch, and so many people come out of the woodwork. That’s very satisfying. “

“I also help with the technical side of the village music festival, Glaistonbury. I never wanted to be a retiree who would sit and read the newspaper.

“I have to pinch myself that the two things I’m most passionate about, cricket and music, we’ve got on the doorstep.”

Chris Padmore, one of the hosts of Glaistonbury said: “Mark just seems to be very good with people. It’s a lot down to him the success of the cricket club. He just has a lot of enthusiasm.

“There aren’t many things he doesn’t seem to get involved with, he’s a sound engineer, plays bass and guitar, he’s an all round good guy, I can’t speak highly enough of him.

“He throws himself into everything. He’s become an indispensable part of the village in a very short space of time.

Glaisdale cricket club secretary, Nigel Roberts, said: “He cares passionately about the club. He’s indispensable, we wouldn’t be able to replace him and we definitely don’t want to lose him.”

“He does a heck of a lot of work with the youngsters, he organises training sessions, he’s there for matches, he’s there all the time.

“He’s very good at bringing in new players. Without Mark getting these new players in we wouldn’t have won the league. He does half the secretaries job now as well, he’s just indispensable.

“He’s a lovely bloke, who would do anything for anybody, whenever there is a problem, Mark is there dealing with it. The bloke’s a legend.”