Hundreds of people have attended the funeral of former England and Gloucestershire fast bowler David “Syd” Lawrence in Bristol.

Lawrence, the first British-born black cricketer to represent England, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in 2024 and died last month at the age of 61.

Family, friends, and former teammates from both Gloucestershire and England, along with members of the public, gathered to remember him at St Mary Redcliffe Church on Friday.

An emotional Phil Tufnell, Lawrence’s friend and former England teammate, said Lawrence was “someone who you wanted on your side”.

“[He was a] larger-than-life character and filled the room when he came in. We had some great laughs along the way,” he said.

“He had this great big deep voice. He’d always say hello to everyone. It’s sad that he had to go.”

Lawrence’s son, Buster, described his dad as “a loving man” with “so much love to give”.

“For me, for all the accolades – not that they don’t mean anything to me – but he was my dad first and foremost,” he said.

“He did such a great job being a dad that if you took all that away he would still be the best dad to me and the best friend.”

He added that behind the “hard, big exterior” his dad would do anything for the people he cared about.

Revd Rupert Martin led the funeral, with the hymns including the well-known ‘The Lord is my Shepherd’.

A eulogy was read by George Orchard, followed by family tributes from Shauna Mighty and Bev Powell, Alice Lawrence and Buster – Lawrence’s son.

The Bristol Reggae Windrush Choir, which performed outside the church before the service began, also sang during the service.

Current Gloucestershire Head Coach and former teammate Mark Alleyne said afterwards: “The service was wonderful.

“[I’m] really proud to have known him and so glad he’s touched so many lives.”

The funeral was followed by a wake at the County Ground in north Bristol.

Lawrence, affectionally known as “Syd”, was given an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours weeks before he died for outstanding services to cricket.

He played five Test matches for England and took 625 wickets in 280 matches during a 16-year career at Gloucestershire, where he grew up.

After retirement he became a nightclub owner and amateur bodybuilder before being named Gloucestershire’s club president in 2022, a role he remained in until his death.

Former cricketer Andy Brassington said he was with Lawrence, who he was friends with for more than 44 years, just an hour before his death.

Speaking outside the church, Mr Brassington added he “has lost a best mate”.

“It was a difficult situation for us all, and it was time for Syd to go. But right until the end was there he was positive.”

Additional reporting by Ali Durden, Ed Hadwin and James Diamond.