'A real character, larger than life' - popular writer and commentator dies at 83

Racing writer, broadcaster and commentator John Budden has been hailed as "an inspiration for a lot of people" after his death at the age of 83.

The former schoolmaster spent nearly 60 years in the sport, including a decade writing the View from the North column in The Sporting Life, and he remained a popular voice on William Hill Radio and in the pages of the Cumberland News.

"He was very much a glass half full person," his son James said on Thursday. "He had a lot of time for people and he liked to see the good in everyone. He was good company and a terrific raconteur. There have been some lovely things written about him and some very kind messages.

"He started to commentate on the Cumberland Farmers point-to-point and he got a part-time job with the Cumberland News in 1966 – 'Over The Sticks with Basil Budden' – and he was their longest-serving employee. He was bashing out his articles right to the end.

"Gradually he did more and more racing and less and less teaching but for a long time he ran a cricket team, the Trogs, that started with him and a bunch of schoolmaster friends. He was the captain and he would quite often nip off to the call box to phone through to some newspaper when he was meant to be directing the fielders!"

Budden became a racecourse commentator, appeared on Borders Television on a Friday evening to discuss the weekend racing and wrote The Boss, the biography of his great friend, former trainer Gordon W Richards.

The Greystoke trainer's son Nicky recalled: "John was a brilliant man, he wrote the book for father, he taught my sister and he was a great friend. And what a passion he had for this game!

"He'd written in the local paper since the 1960s and he was an inspiration for a lot of people – you always felt better after you'd had a chat with John."

Trainer Nicky Richards: 'John was a brilliant man – what a passion he had for this game!'Credit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Budden's fellow broadcaster Cornelius Lysaght said: "John was a throwback to an era when you could be a schoolmaster one moment and a commentator and racing writer the next.

"He was a real character, larger than life in a positive way and he had a very distinctive, fruity voice. He wasn't a big punter but he loved to have an interest and you could always tell from his commentaries when 'the Budden fiver' was on the right one!"

Budden's final selection was a winner. Sweet Auburn's victory at Bangor on Tuesday strengthened his lead in the William Hill Radio monthly naps table – his winnings are being donated to the Injured Jockeys Fund.

It is a measure of Budden's status and popularity that when BBC Cumbria held a poll in 2014 to find the greatest Cumbrian, Budden was on the ballot alongside the likes of Stan Laurel, Beatrix Potter and Catherine Parr, the last wife of Henry VIII.

His wife Jackie died last year but he is survived by sons James and Simon. Funeral details have yet to be announced.

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