RIP Peter Sharp

The voice of Canterbury cricket has been silenced; Newstalk ZB reports:

One of the most famous voices in New Zealand cricket has fallen silent.

Commentator Peter Sharp has died after a battle with cancer, aged 72.

His wife Sandra was at his side when he passed away at a hospice at four o'clock this morning.

He was the longest serving of the current crop of kiwi cricket commentators, beginning broadcasting in 1966 after playing two seasons for Canterbury as an off spin bowler.

He was a commentator on CHTV3 in Christchurch in its early days, and later for tv in the 1980s.

Mr Sharp was also involved with introducing sports coordinators in schools.

He was largely responsible for the founding in 1992 of the New Zealand Secondary Schools Sports Council.

In more recent years he has been heard as part of the Radio Sport commentary team.

His commentating career spanned 45 years.

Peter Sharp became involved in administration, becoming a Canterbury selector and serving a term as president of Canterbury Cricket.

We were very saddened to hear last night of Peter Sharp's death. His voice has been a part of the fabric of summer for just about as long as we can remember; as reported above, he'd been commentating on cricket for 45 years.

Peter Sharp was a proud Cantabrian, and was a wonderful servant of sport, not just cricket. He was knowledgable, passionate, and had that inate ability to paint word pictures which made listeners feel as though they were right at the heart of the action. He will leave a large hole in his profession.

Our thoughts and our prayers are with his wife Sandra and his family and friends at this time of loss. Thank you for sharing Peter with those of us who love cricket; we are richer people for having listened to him for so long.

Rest peacefully Peter.