Nicholas ‘Bambi’ Absalom passed away recently and his passing at such an early age somehow makes his family’s loss even deeper.
 
Bambi was a smashing sportsman and a pleasure to know, and we are pleased to reproduce this moving tribute from former Hook team mate Jonathan Willington as we at PembrokeshireSport.co.uk pass on our condolences to the family of someone we knew, liked and respected. RIP Nick.
 
Jonathan Willington’s tribute
 
The passing of Nicholas Absalom after a long battle with Coronavirus brought genuine sadness to all those associated with Hook Cricket Club and Hook Sports and Social Clubs.
 
Nicholas, or ‘Bambi’ as he was affectionately known, was a larger-than-life character who will be remembered fondly by all at the clubs.
 
A true lifelong Hook man, Bambi was throughout his life the heartbeat of sport and much more in the village. He played cricket for Hook for over 40 years, played football for Hook Sports in the years the team existed, whilst being an ever present with the Darts and Pool teams.
 
A much loved character in the village, Bambi played sport with a passion and commitment that endeared him to teammates and opponents alike. He was a winner and played that way every time he took the field. He knew nothing less than 100% and was not shy of reminding teammates when their commitment dropped below that level.
 
Terrific contribution to Hook Sports and Social Clubs
 
His contribution to the Sports & Social Club was no different. He served on the committee for many years and epitomised the role of a volunteer. Early morning dog walkers in the village would often see Bambi arriving at the club to clean the beer lines before he went to work for the day.
 
This was Bambi; if you are going to do something do it right or not at all.




 
Cricket a big passion
 
For Bambi cricket was a big passion. He represented Hook for many years with great success and could strike fear into opponents when he strode to the wicket with his appetite to smash the ball to all parts.
 
In his younger days, Bambi played in a very talented Hook team which in 1981 won the Pembrokeshire Junior League. In senior cricket he played for the first team in 1992 when promotion was won to Division 1, as well as captaining the second team for many years and being central to the formation of a third team in Hook.
 
As a young man, Bambi bowled with deceptive pace, a skiddy bowler he would be called today, regularly picking up wickets in Divisions 1 and 2. As he got older, he used his wily experience to turn to spin bowling, often opening the bowling for the second team. Several years ago he returned from a league fixture in Hundleton with a wide smile, having returned the remarkable figures of 9 overs, 9 maidens and 1 wicket for no runs!
 
He was no mug with the bat either. Bambi would never have called himself a batsman, but he put many a bowler to the sword. In remembering Bambi, many a story would be recalled by teammates of balls disappearing off his bat over the scoreboard in Hook, with captains spreading fielders to all parts in fear of the next big hit.
 
Stories galore about a real character – and a family man
 
One story Bambi would be proud of was when Hook hosted fierce rivals Llangwm in a Harrison-Allen cup tie. After the Hook top order had been decimated by former county player Martin Inward in a typical fiery spell of bowling, Bambi strode to the wicket, striking Martin for three consecutive sixes over the scoreboard – Bambi’s corner! No need to explain the reaction this received from Martin!
 
Bambi’s passing leaves an enormous void in the village and of course his beloved family. Bambi was a dedicated family man and the thoughts of everyone at the Cricket and Sports & Social Clubs are with his family. The incredible number of messages of sympathy received from across the Pembrokeshire sporting fraternity underlines what a popular guy Bambi was and how much this great character will be missed.