A FORMER professional cricketer is today celebrating hitting his weight for six by shedding more than two-and-a-half stone.Don Topley, now a games coach at the Royal Hospital School in Holbrook, started dieting in December after suffering three health scares in as many months.

A FORMER professional cricketer is today celebrating hitting his weight for six by shedding more than two-and-a-half stone.

Don Topley, now a games coach at the Royal Hospital School in Holbrook, started dieting in December after suffering three health scares in as many months.

The ex-Zimbabwe coach and Essex seamer stood on the scales for the last time at the school's speech day on Saturday and a 1,000-strong audience witnessed that he had shrunk from 19st 4lbs to 16st 12lbs.

Mr Topley's weight-loss has also helped raise £5,000 for two Sri Lankan schools affected by the Boxing Day tsunami.

Last summer saw Mr Topley, 41, suffer a heart condition, a testicular cancer scare and a liver condition, prompting doctors to tell him to lose weight.

He first officially took to the scales at the school in January – weighing in at 18st 12lbs – but admitted his weight had crept up to 19st 4lb at Christmas.

Mr Topley said: "It's been really hard work but I'm pleased with how it has finished and I'm pleased that I've got down to an acceptable weight.

"People must bear in mind I'm 6ft 4ins so I'm never going to be light.

"I've tried a combination of exercise and dieting. The main thing I've done is cut out a lot of bread, potatoes and fruit squash. They were my weaknesses.

"It has been a hard slog but I've been helped by the headmaster Harold Blackett and my family.

"I'm very thankful to them and the people at the school, and my cricketing contacts, for sponsoring me.

"I'll keep my weight down but I won't be trying to lose anymore right now - I'm looking forward to having something to eat too much."

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