Robin Smith, who played for both Hampshire and England for approximately 25 years, died at his home in Perth on December 1, 2025. He was 62.
A memorial service was held at Winchester Cathedral on Friday, June 12.
It was attended by friends, family, and teammates.
Chris Smith (Image: Chris Atkinson)
Robin’s brother, Chris Smith, said: “We spent thousands of hours practising cricket in our garden as we were growing up.
“We were very lucky that we played provincial cricket in South Africa together in the same team; we played club cricket together in South Africa, and then we were at Hampshire for a very long time together.
“There were an incredible number of memories.
“I have a picture in my gymnasium at home, in Perth, of the last time we battered together and we got 114 runs to win a very important game, so there are hundreds and hundreds of lovely memories and I try to reflect on those, rather than focus on the difficulties he had once his professional career ended.”
Rod Bramsgrove, the Honorary Life President of Hampshire Cricket, said: “He was a fine cricketer, an amazing, entertaining and effective batsman.
“Robin was certainly amongst the greatest players who played for Hampshire and possibly one of the greatest match-winning players they ever had.
“But more than that he was a sensational character who lit up and entertained rooms wherever he went and a truly close and dear friend.”
Allan Lamb (Image: Chris Atkinson)
Allan Lamb, who played alongside Robin, said: “I knew Robin ever since his first-ever first-class game.
“He had a name then of being the best player to have broken old Barry Richards’ records.
“That’s when we met.”
He continued: “Playing for England, he was brilliant.
“If I wanted someone to bat for my life, it would have been Robin, and he was always a brave guy; he played the quick bowling well, and we had some great partnerships.
“He told me, before he died, that we held the record partnership for England.”
Among the attendees were notable cricketers including Alec Stewart, Gladstone Small, David Gower, Mike Gatting, Phil de Freitas, Rob Andrew, Shaun Udal, John Crawley, and Nic Pothas.
Tributes were given during the memorial by Chris Smith and one of Robin’s former Hampshire Cricket Club colleagues, Mark Nicholas.
