It is with great sadness, deep gratitude, and a fond smile for a life very well-lived that Civil Service North of Ireland Cricket Club (CSNICC) marks the passing of our much loved Life Member, former President, and true club legend, Peter Lunney.
Summing up Peter’s life would be telling the story of a man whose passion for sport—and cricket above all else—was matched only by his warmth, integrity, unwavering dedication to club and the wider sporting community.
Kent Coast to Holywood: Early Sporting Roots
Peter’s journey began in Kent. Enrolling at Simon Langton Grammar School in Canterbury in 1945, where his innate love for sport immediately flourished. He captained his form and house football teams, playing left-half for the U14s. In the summers, if he wasn’t scoring for Whitstable Cricket Club, he was watching his beloved Kent CCC at his spiritual home—the picturesque St Lawrence Ground in Canterbury. Set against the majestic backdrop of Canterbury Cathedral, it was a sanctuary he lovingly returned to during many summer holidays.
In June 1948, life took a cross-channel turn. Following his father’s relocation with Shorts from Rochester to Sydenham, the family settled in Holywood, and Peter enrolled at Sullivan Upper School. Faced with a sport he knew nothing about—rugby—Peter adapted with characteristic resolve. Big for his age, he went straight into the Under-15s a year early before becoming a regular starter on the School’s 1st XV at loosehead prop. On the cricket pitch, he shone for Sullivan’s 1st XI with an exceptional fielding display in one memorable match in slips taking four catches.
Overcoming Adversity
After leaving Sullivan in 1951, Peter secured a role with the Ministry of Supply in London. Shortly after, he faced a severe health battle, contracting tuberculosis. In June 1952, he underwent major surgery to remove most of his right lung, endured a prolonged hospital stay, and faced a regime of painful daily injections.
Yet, his spirit—and his love for sport—remained unbreakable.
Cricket was always his ultimate sporting passion. In 1955, Peter joined Civil Service Cricket Club at Stormont, serving the club as a player on the 1st and 2nd XIs for 25 years. Though he played in earlier rounds, he was gutted to miss the Club’s finest hour in 1963, when the First XI won the Junior Cup Final; Peter was away visiting family in New Jersey at the time.
As a batsman, Peter was a classic, orthodox top-order player—a true traditionalist who remained openly unimpressed by modern, shorter formats of the game. Due to his reduced lung capacity, running between the wickets was no easy task, and he often “ran out of steam,” making several fifties but never breaking past the 52-run mark. That elusive barrier finally fell in the mid-1970s in a poetic twist: playing away at Holywood, Peter scored a career-best 53, ecstatic to finally eclipse his long-standing personal best!
Pillar of Administration & Club Merger
Peter’s impact extended far beyond the boundary ropes. He captained the Civil Service Seconds across two spells (four seasons total) and served with immense diligence off the pitch:
Honorary Treasurer (7 years)
Match Secretary
Chairman
President during the landmark 2004 merger with North of Ireland Cricket Club to form Civil Service North of Ireland Cricket Club (CSNICC).
For his extraordinary contributions across both cricket and rugby at Stormont, Peter was awarded the prestigious Bloomfield Cup and named a Life Member of the Cricket Club.
International Umpiring
With a natural penchant for fair play—perhaps inherited from his father’s trade union roots—Peter transitioned to umpiring in 1980. He rapidly rose through the ranks, and after six seasons, he was appointed to Ireland’s International Panel.
He officiated five international matches, making his international debut in 1986 when Ireland hosted India at the old North of Ireland ground at Ormeau. He went on to umpire three NCU Cup Finals and three All-Ireland Finals. For 18 years, Peter undertook the notoriously thankless task of NCU Umpires’ Appointments’ Secretary—a role made even more challenging by wet Irish summers and Peter’s self-professed status as a complete technophobe!
His immense contributions were universally recognised:
Life Membership of the Northern Cricket Union of Ireland (2003)
Life Membership of Cricket Ireland (formerly the ICU)
PA Announcer at Stormont in 2006 for Ireland’s first-ever full One Day International against England—a proud moment bridging his adopted country and the country of his birth.
Collector and Reader
Beyond scoring and umpiring, Peter was a character of many interests. A cheekily persistent autograph hunter, he had a knack for “blagging” his way past security at team hotels and grounds. His prized collection included international rugby programmes signed by full teams, and his passion led to enduring, long-term friendships with Scottish & British Lions prop Ian McLauchlan and England wicketkeeper Bob Taylor.
He possessed an enviable sporting library, anchored by a complete set of Wisden Cricketers’ Almanacks dating back to 1864, and loved nothing more than settling down with the prose of his favourite writer, Sir Neville Cardus.
Fondly Remembered
Peter Lunney embodied the absolute best of Civil Service North of Ireland Cricket Club. Whether as a an orthodox batsman, a meticulous administrator, an international umpire, or a welcoming face at Stormont, he gave decades of his life to the sport he loved.
There would be nobody more proud of our 1st XI’s recent success in the NCU Challenge Cup this year than Peter. He would be cheering the young guns on in his own inimitable style with that unmistakeable voice and no doubt would be relishing the Irish Senior Cup decider on Sunday against Pembroke.
We extend our deepest condolences to Peter’s wife, Mary, son Mark, daughter-in-law Pamela, grandchildren, Stephen, Adam, Rebecca, his friends, and all who had the privilege of sharing some time with him over the many decades he spent around Stormont.
His innings with us may have ended, but his legacy at Stormont and with the wider cricketing family, will be remembered for many years to come.
Rest easy friend.
CSNICC 