Bob Pullin, another of Petersfield Cricket Club’s iconic players from former
years, sadly died last week aged 82. Bob was a prolific run-scorer who excelled
at all sports and played for the Cricket Club for over 20 years.
He joined Petersfield Cricket Club in 1965 when he left Loughborough College
to teach PE and Geography at Churchers College. He was 1 st team captain for a
number of seasons.  He always opened the batting and regularly topped the
Club batting averages when it was in Division 1 of the Hampshire League and in
their Southern League Days. In 1974 he became the first player since John Hull
to top 1000 runs for the season.
After Churchers he taught at Bedales School.  He continued to play cricket for
Petersfield when he took up a job as Hampshire County Council’s Assistant
Head of Recreation where he organised the formal opening of the Queen
Elizabeth Country Park. He then moved again to become Estates Manager for
Lord Romsey at Broadlands in the mid-1980s and later at Hever Castle in Kent. 
Even though he now moved in aristocratic circles he remained a popular,
approachable and highly respected club cricketer.
His sporting prowess was not confined to cricket.  He also played rugby for
Hampshire at a time when county rugby was very competitive. At
Loughborough he concentrated on playing soccer and played for Reading
where he seriously considered turning professional. But he was persuaded to
pursue rugby by John Robbins the former British Lion. He was also a very
accomplished hockey player.
Bob had not been well for a couple of years but his family made sure that he
was able to pay a last visit to The Heath last June to be present at the Jim
Smallbone Memorial match between an old Petersfield side and the
Hampshire Seniors.  There he met many of his former cricketing colleagues and
adversaries, all of whom held him in high regard. Bob leaves a widow Sally and
children Gregg and Debbie.