Cricket world's farewell to friend Ronald 'Rocky' Harris

TRIBUTES have poured in after the death of former international umpire Ronald "Rocky" Harris at the age of 80.

Cricket mourn

THE Sydney Cricket Ground will never be the same without him.

That's cricketing great Richie Benaud's assessment after Northern Districts' life member and former international umpire Ronald "Rocky" Harris died on February 1, aged 80.

Tears and tributes flowed from family, friends and cricketing greats around the world as they farewelled one of cricket's true gentleman at Magnolia Chapel, Macquarie Park, last Friday.

"He touched so many people from coaching to umpiring to his work at the SCG," Northern Districts' president Mike Langford said.

For the past 25 years Mr Harris has taken care of visiting international sides in sheds at the SCG. During that time he befriended many players and started an honour board on a dressing room cupboard.

VVS Laxman figures prominently on the board, and after he scored 100 he signed, "Thank you Rocky". Mr Harris remembered Laxman on his 1999 visit: "He was padded up to bat when he noticed a sole hanging out of one of his boots," he said. "So I took a tube of adhesive, stuck it together, wound a tape around it, placed it under the massage table and told everyone to sit on it. A few minutes on, he put it on, walked in, and made that 167."

Mr Harris is survived by his wife, Hazel, his three children, two sisters and seven grandchildren.

ROCKY FAST FACTS

* He umpired his only one-day international in 1979, but officiated in 13 first class matches

* He was NSW U17 team manager from 1988-1997, before taking on the role of room attendant to international visiting teams.

TRIBUTES FLOW

Richie Benaud: RIP Rocky Harris. The SCG will never be the same without him in the dressing room looking after the visitors.

Jason Gillespie: The world is poorer for the passing of one of the nicest blokes I have ever come across.

Mickey Arthur: Rocky Harris, a true gentleman and wonderful motivator to any visiting team at the SCG. Took real pride in his work in the rooms. RIP.