One of the last links with the great Yorkshire side of the 1930s has been broken with the death of Ellis Robinson, aged 87, who played for the club from 1934-49 before moving to Somerset for three seasons.

Robinson claimed 735 first class wickets for Yorkshire with his demanding off-spin and throughout his career he captured 1,009 wickets at an average of 22.58 runs apiece.

He was one of the most outstanding close-in fielders in Yorkshire's history and his 189 catches included six in an innings against Leicestershire at Park Avenue in 1938 which remains a club record.

Born in Denaby Main, South Yorkshire, he took over 100 wickets for the local club in one season as a young player before moving to Barnsley where he attracted Yorkshire's attention. He played for Bowling Old Lane in 1940 and two years later turned out for Eccleshill, taking 64 wickets at 10.76 runs apiece.

Robinson was made a life member of Yorkshire in 1982. His funeral service will be held at Conisbrough Parish Church at 1.0pm on November 17, followed by refreshments at Rotherham Golf Club, Thrybergh Park.

Meanwhile, Yorkshire will seek their members' approval for turning the club into a limited company when the annual meeting is held in Huddersfield on March 13.

The proposals for incorporation as an Industrial and Provident Society are intended to assist the club's borrowing capacities and to remove the personal liability of members.

But Yorkshire chief executive Chris Hassell said that there would be few noticeable changes if the proposals went through and the club would still be run by a committee rather than a board of directors.

"About half a dozen county clubs have already done a similar thing and it is the right road to go down," he said.

When Yorkshire's Headingley landlords, Leeds CFA, served a £17m writ on the club in August, 1997, over the decision to move their headquarters to Wakefield, it was feared that individual members of Yorkshire could be liable, but there will be no personal liability if the club becomes an Industrial and Provident Society.

Since then, Yorkshire have agreed with Leeds CFA on an £11m redevelopment plan for cricket at Headingley and Yorkshire members will have the chance on Saturday, November 28, to attend the ground between 10.0am-12.30pm to inspect the plans and question committee representatives, including the sub-committee which has conducted the negotiations.

An application is currently being made out for submission to the Sports Council Lottery Fund but it is not felt that a decision will be reached by the Council until the middle of next year.

Yorkshire stress that the proposals, which still require detailed planning permission, are very much subject to the funding application to the Lottery and the vital financial support of Leeds City Council in addition to finance from Yorkshire themselves and Leeds CFA.

And, in a letter to members, Hassell warns: "Even now there is still a mountain to climb in respect of the funding requirements which are far from resolved."

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