John Stew: 1957 - 2023

Leicestershire CCC is extremely saddened to learn of the passing of former Catering Manager John Stew, who passed away peacefully on Friday at the age of 66.

John dedicated 16 years of outstanding service to the Club across two stints before his retirement in 2022, winning the affection of fellow staff, players, coaches, as well as visiting teams and supporters, for his exceptional culinary skills.

Cheltenham born, John initially joined Leicestershire in 1994. He helped the Club experience remarkable success both on and off the field, as the Foxes won County Championship titles in ’96 and ’98, while his catering team were at the heart of the first-class matchday experience at Grace Road.

He spent six years with Leicestershire before accepting a post at Freemason’s Hall, London Road, where he worked for 12 years.

Happily for everyone at Grace Road, John rejoined County in early 2013, where he set about bringing the catering operation ‘in-house’. His work was a roaring success, as Leicestershire became famed for its award-winning food, earning comparisons to Lord’s hospitality for service in the Charles Palmer Suite.

The Club continued as a fan-favourite for catering throughout his tenure, while John’s legendary menus also garnered immense praise from both Men’s and Women’s International touring squads.

In 2022, John decided to enter a staged retirement. He was still a vibrant figure at the Foxes’ home, however, working as a volunteer with Friends of Grace Road on matchdays to serve cakes and coffee.

Discussing the devastating news, CEO Sean Jarvis said: “Leicestershire is a sad place today as it has lost one of its unsung heroes.

“John was one of the hardest working individuals I have ever met. His dedication and commitment to both Leicestershire and his trade was unrivalled, and a joy to watch.

“Not only was John a true force of nature in the job he did, but he was also a brilliant man with a heart as big as you could find. He was stubborn, but that was his endearing feature, because you knew he would always help in the end.

“It was a privilege and an honour to have known him, worked with him, to have eaten his wonderful food, and most importantly - to call him a friend.

“John will be greatly missed by the entire Club and the whole community. Leicestershire offers its sincere condolences to Trudy and John’s family at this very sad time.”

As well as being an ardent follower of Leicestershire CCC and a lifelong West Bromwich Albion fan, John was a keen runner. A member of the Leicester Roadhoggs club, he reached the inspiring landmark of running 100 marathons during his time at the Club.

The thoughts of everybody at Leicestershire County Cricket Club are with his partner Trudy, as well as John’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time. He will be deeply missed by all those who had the pleasure of knowing him.