HAMPSHIRE'S oldest surviving county cricketer has died at the age of 92.

Alan Rayment, who was known as Punchy to teammates and friends, played for the county from 1949 to 1958. He was their last capped professional whose career was entirely in first-class cricket.

Alan was born in Finchley in 1928, learned his cricket in the London area and with Middlesex 2nd XI and joined Hampshire after impressing against them in a match at Bournemouth.

The right-handed batsman and occasional bowler made his county debut in May 1949, and played for Hampshire in 198 first-class matches over ten seasons, scoring 6,333 runs at 20.36, with four centuries, 23 half-centuries - and 19 wickets.

He completed 1,000 runs in a season on two occasions, in 1952 and 1956 and he was a member of the side that finished third in 1955 and runners-up in 1958 – both best performances by Hampshire at that time.

Among his centuries was a remarkable innings at Weston-Super-Mare, in 1955 when his 104 came out of a Hampshire score of 245-7 declared, after Somerset had been bowled out for just 37 (Shackleton 8-4).

He once wrote: “I have always been, and remain, thankful and proud to have worn my Hampshire cap, to have played with and against unforgettable characters, and to have occasionally entertained Hampshire cricket fans."

Alan's quick feet could be put down to his dancing skills. He and wife Betty were expert ballroom dancers and ran a dancing school in Southampton.

After retiring in 1958, Alan coached at Lord’s and occasionally captained Hampshire’s 2nd XI.

Paying tribute, Hampshire Cricket chairman Rod Bransgrove said: "The loss of any Hampshire Cricketer is always a terrible blow but particularly poignant when it is our 'Senior Pro'.

"Alan Rayment was a wonderful Hampshire cricketer who was so proud to represent this great Club. As always, his statistics will be presented elsewhere but what he embodied more than anything was the spirit of a Hampshire player and I have only ever known his as a warm and genial presence.

"He only ever had good things to say to me about his Club and it was always a real pleasure to see him during his regular visits to the Ageas Bowl. He will be very sadly missed by everyone associated with Hampshire Cricket."

In 2018, Alan was treated to a surprise 90th party by his Dorset Cricket Society friends. He was always entertaining at the reunions of former players.

Alan died in Lymington Hospital last week following a short illness.