Having a “good innings” is often used to describe lengthy service. Rarely has it seemed more appropriate than in the case of Mark Ward, the Gonville & Caius College Groundsman, who is on 43 not out.

Mark, a prodigious cricketer in his youth, has been working at Caius since autumn 1979 and in charge of the Barton Road sportsground for 24 years, since the retirement of Bob Pryor, his mentor and predecessor.

“I came here in September or October 1979,” Mark says. “Forty-four years this year – a long time!”

Bob had held his role for more than four decades, with the continuity key in the College environment.

It was cricket which helped Mark to get the job – more of which follows – and cricket was Bob’s passion, so much so that Mark had to earn his trust.

“I don’t think I prepared a cricket wicket myself for five or six years from when I first got here, because that would have been sacrilege,” Mark says.

“Bob’s pride and joy was the cricket. I did stuff with him, but it took a long time before I was trusted.”

Mark preparing the cricket square

After Bob died last year, his ashes were scattered on the cricket square at Barton Road. After his three daughters enquired if he might request the same, Mark joked his will be elsewhere.

“My children did a lot of ballet at St Neots – I think I paid for the teacher’s house the amount of time they spent there,” he says.

“I was backwards and forwards all the time, spent half my life waiting in the car. I said my ashes would be in the car park at the ballet!”

Mark’s three children are with his wife, Sharon, whom he met at a pub with his cricket team. His grown up daughters have now moved on from the family home overlooking the College sports ground, where Mark has worked since he was 17 years old.

Mark was born in Newmarket and moved to Cambridge aged nine. His father was a police officer and Mark considered becoming one too. He left school and was looking for a job when informed by a cricket team-mate that Caius were seeking grounds staff.

“I was asked ‘can you tie your own shoelaces?’ that kind of thing, and was told ‘start Monday’,” Mark says.

Mark describes his role as restoring the grounds to perform at their best following the wear and tear of sporting competition, with aesthetics secondary. He recalls fondly compliments about the quality of the pitches and grass tennis courts, which were compared favourably to Wimbledon by someone familiar with the SW19 courts.

He also enjoys the interactions with students, recalling many smiling faces but few names from his lengthy service.

“Whether they’re in the fourth team or good enough to play professionally, I enjoy seeing the value they place in sport,” Mark adds.