For Gloucestershire cricketer James Bracey, one Syd Lawrence memory stands above all others: September 2024 when Gloucestershire won T20 Blast for first time; Lawrence, already battling MND, was there to present trophy; "A very special and happy moment for me to see what that meant to him"
When James Bracey thinks of Syd Lawrence, he does not first think of wickets, records or milestones.
He thinks of a man who never stopped giving to Gloucestershire cricket.
This Sunday, Gloucestershire will honour former England fast bowler Syd Lawrence during their Metro Bank One Day Cup fixture against Nottinghamshire, wearing a special commemorative kit and raising funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA).
One memory stands above all others: September 2024, when Gloucestershire won the T20 Blast for the first time in the club's history. Lawrence, already battling motor neurone disease, was there to present the trophy.
"That was very special for me," Bracey tells Sky Sports.
"We were obviously delighted that we'd just won the Blast for the first time as a team, but to see how much it meant to him, even at that stage of his life, was really emotional.
"It just showed how much he really loved the club. To see his face when he was able to hold that trophy was really special for me."
Lawrence, who passed away in June 2025 aged 61, remains one of the most influential figures in Gloucestershire's history. He became the first British-born Black cricketer to play Test cricket for England in 1988 and later became Gloucestershire's first Black president.
Although Bracey never saw Lawrence play, his impact on the club was impossible to miss.
"From my experiences, he was an incredibly kind-hearted person, incredibly personable and cared a hell of a lot about Gloucestershire cricket," Bracey said.
"Any time he was around the ground, he was chatting to everyone. He was larger than life and had a hell of a lot of energy."
Sunday's tribute is also designed to raise awareness of motor neurone disease and highlight the work of the MNDA.
"We've seen how public Syd was with his condition," Bracey said. "But the impact it has on family and friends is just as important.
"That's the amazing thing about what the MNDA do. They support the person with the disease, but they also help those around them."