Former MCC secretary John Stephenson dies

Lt-Colonel John Stephenson, the secretary of MCC from 1987 to 1993, died yesterday at his home in Salisbury, Wiltshire. He was 72.

Stephenson, tall and ramrod-backed, started at Lord's as assistant secretary in 1979 after 28 years in the army. He soon became a familiar sight marching around on the outfield during weather interruptions, either sheltering under a vast MCC umbrella or poking the turf suspiciously with it. In his early days he would arrive at the ground, immaculately dressed, on an improbably small bicycle.

He took over as secretary at a difficult time, when his predecessor Jack Bailey (with whom he had been at school at Christ's Hospital) was manoeuvred out at an early stage of MCC's bicentenary celebrations in 1987. "The Colonel", a genial fellow, was seen as a safe pair of hands, and his outgoing personality helped mend many fences, both outside Lord's and within, given MCC's often-frosty relationship with the Test & County Cricket Board (now the ECB).

Under his stewardship Lord's became a more friendly place, although he was a stickler for tradition in the right place. Some of the staff wished they had seen a little more of him, but this may have been because of the endless stream of meetings - which he cheerfully loathed - that he was expected to attend. Initially he was secretary of the International Cricket Council as well, and oversaw its transition into a completely independent body, also housed within the confines of Lord's.

He took particular delight in the achievements of the MCC Young Cricketers, and captained them with enthusiasm during the annual Cross Arrows season in September. As a bowler, the term "military medium" was particularly appropriate in his case.

Stephenson was supposed to retire at 60 in 1991, but the committee was persuaded to let him carry on for two more years (he himself had rather hoped for five). After his eventual retirement he served briefly on MCC's committee, but was disappointed that no other companies seemed terribly interested in using his expertise.

His obituary in The Times pointed out that he was "not a man of great intellect", but more charitably observed that he made up for that with common sense: "By his natural courtesy and charm he did wonders for [MCC's] public relations. He would talk to anyone, from the man on the mower to the most exalted committee member. Media critics inclined to prickle at the traditions of Lord's and the perceived stuffiness of a club that had once ruled the game were disarmed by his frankness and charm."

He was married to his wife, Karen, for 41 years: they had two daughters and a son, who followed him into the army. He was appointed CBE for services to cricket in 1994.