Botham cancels party to go to dying mother’s side

The mother of cricket legend Sir Ian Botham has died in hospital with her son at her side.

Sir Ian, 56, called off planned celebrations on Saturday for the end of his latest 150-mile charity walk from Glasgow to London to allow him to go to the bedside of his mother, Marie.

The 85-year-old great-grandmother died on Saturday night at Yeovil District Hospital in Somerset, surrounded by her family.

Daughter Dale Knight, 55, said the death was still sinking in with the family.

“I always thought mum would reach her 100th birthday. She’s going to be really missed, there’s going to be quite a hole left with her gone,” she said.

Cricket-loving Mrs Botham was an active member of the local community and worked for the parish council and as a member of the Yeovil and District branch of the Royal British Legion.

Yeovil Without Parish Council chairwoman Barbara Strong, 84, said: “Marie’s death was unexpected. She was in hospital for something and her death was not connected with that. She passed very quietly with Ian and the rest of the family there.

“Marie was a parish councillor for at least 12 years and was very genuine in her work. She is going to be sadly missed. She and Les both encouraged Ian a great deal in his sport, Les was a sportsman, and he encouraged Ian a lot,” she said.