Club president Roger Jones writes:
"It is with much sadness that I have to report the death at the age of 74 of Brian Johnson who played for the club with great distinction from 1982 to 2013.
He died in hospital on Sunday evening following a heart attack. He had been suffering from lung cancer since Christmas, but complications set in last week which led to the fatal cardiac arrest.
Brian, arguably the best batsman to play for the club – he was certainly the most technically correct – scored 10,350 runs at an average of just under 40. "BJ" is one of only four RRCC batsman to have scored 1000+ runs in a season. He also took 290 wickets at an average of 17.69 and, on his day, was quick going on very quick. Those statistics make him the outstanding allrounder in our history.
He joined the club with Terry Burton when North Finchley CC folded and scored the first of several career centuries for RRs in only his third match after arriving late and batting at No. 7. His 320th and final appearance, at the age of 70, came at Roydon four years ago when he famously struck his first ball to the boundary with all the panache we had seen over the years.
He was an eccentric character who forgot more than he remembered, but behind a hangdog, rather mournful facial expression lay a humorous, mischievous, kind human being who contributed much mirth – some of it unwittingly – to several tours. He will be missed.
Brian is survived by his wife Sue, daughter Clare and son Tom. The funeral takes place at Mortlake Crematorium in south-west London at 10.40am on Thursday, August 31st when we hope the club will be well represented."