Dr. George Frank Hugh Stening

Dr. George Frank Hugh Stening

Frank Stening, one of University’s outstanding cricketers of the 1950s, died on 10 May 2022 at the age of 85.

Dr Stening entered University to study Medicine in 1955, following a very successful career in school cricket at Cranbrook.  Possibly at school his batting was more highly regarded than his bowling – he scored 101 not out against Barker in 1953-54 – but he was the leading all-rounder in an unusually strong Associated Schools competition that featured players like Gordon Rorke and Neil Marks.  University’s selectors were quick to seize on his potential as a fast bowler, and he was hurried into the First Grade side in 1955-56.  It was a steep learning curve, and he captured only a handful of expensive wickets in that first season.  He later recalled that

It was daunting to be playing with and against names you had only heard of and not met. Grade cricket in those days was strong and you played regularly against the state players and internationals. Remember too, that NSW was virtually the Test side.  And there were many grade cricketers as good as the internationals playing in the competition. In 1955 Peter Hall was our captain, a debonair and slightly eccentric architectural student/graduate. He would arrive at the cricket attired in a Uni Blues blazer driving a vintage car or Bentley that stood out amongst the opposition, and us, especially at places like Bankstown.  He was unfailingly polite and a handy, but not brilliant, cricketer. My second game in First Grade was on the Monday of the long weekend against Manly at Manly and Keith Miller was captaining Manly. There was a decent crowd there to see Miller, who had been controversially dropped from the Test side. I can remember he strolled into our dressing room before the start not knowing any of us except Saxon, and wanted to know our captain. Peter timidly, but very presentably, indicated he was and Miller immediately demanded 'do you want to bat or bowl?' Peter responded that he thought we should toss, to which Miller responded 'you bat', which we did. They beat us by an innings in the day and Miller did virtually nothing other than to run me out. That was really how we were accepted in grade and we ended the season not winning a game and having, I think, one draw.

The following season, Dr Stening made a useful contribution towards the First Grade team’s surge to the semi-finals.  Unfortunately, in the last match before the finals, he held a spectacular diving catch at backward square against North Sydney, but broke a rib in the process, and could only look on as Glebe overpowered the students.

By the start of the 1957-58 season, he had developed his pace and stamina and became a genuine force in First Grade cricket.  A few critics complained that he didn’t move the ball very much, but at his best he could be as quick as any bowler in Sydney.  In December 1957, he bowled 18 eight-ball overs in an afternoon to claim 5-67 against a strong St George side.   Although he and his new-ball partner Dave Walker suffered from limited support and some terribly fallible catching, Stening ended the season with 34 wickets at the excellent average of 19.  He also scored his first half-century in First Grade and earned his first representative selection, for a Metropolitan team against a combined Newcastle-Illawarra side.  He improved still further in 1958-59, claiming 35 wickets at 13, including a conspicuously hostile spell of 7-30 against Bankstown.  He was chosen in the NSW Colts team for the annual match against Queensland Colts and, although his bowling was hampered by an ankle injury suffered in the week before the game, he followed his two wickets with a match-saving innings of 56 (against an attack that included, in Tom Veivers and Peter Allan, two future Test bowlers).  His hard-hitting batting was often valuable in University’s lower-middle order.

Although his pace had dropped a little in 1959-60, Stening still managed 30 wickets at 16 in 1959-60, and also hit his highest First Grade score, 60 against North Sydney.  That innings ended in unusual circumstances: not out overnight, he was nowhere to be found when play resumed on the second day of the game, and was “timed out”.  When he eventually appeared at the ground, he blamed his lateness on a punctured tire, and grabbed three wickets to help University win a tight match by 16 runs.  Altogether in First Grade he scored 779 runs at an average of 15.9 and took 114 wickets at 20.

George Frank Hugh Stening was born on 20 October 1936 and died on 10 May 2022.  He is survived by his second wife Loekie, their daughter Nadina, and his sons Mike, Angus and Tom.  The club extends its condolences to Dr Stening’s family.

 Max Bonnell

Trevor Boyd

Trevor Boyd

Born 22 October 1944. Died March 2022, aged 77.

Trevor was from Hermidale via Nyngan and he completed his secondary schooling at St Joseph’s College Hunters Hill.

He was a highly successful scholar and an outstanding sportsman who represented the College 1st XI for three seasons (1960,1961, 1962) as well as the College 1st XV. St Joseph’s were GPS 1st XI Premiers in 1962 and Trevor was selected in the Combined GPS side in 1961 and 1962. For the 1st XI, he had extraordinary figures…8 centuries in 24 games including 680 runs @68.4 in 1962 with 4 centuries.

Trevor’s Grade cricket career commenced with Glebe-South Sydney in 1959-60. He was selected in the Combined Green Shield side of 1960-61 and was promoted to 1st Grade on 9 March 1963 during the 1962-63 season, aged only 18. He played in the Poidevin Gray side which contested the Final in 1963-64, then the 1964-65 side that was undefeated Premiers (managed by Ian Fisher) and then captained the 1965-66 Poidevin Gray side when the Club was amalgamated with Paddington to form the Sydney Club.

He caught the eye of the NSW selectors and was selected for various Combined Metropolitan sides until he debuted for NSW at the SCG against Victoria in January 1967. This was a rather forgettable game as NSW was bowled out for 93 and Trevor, batting at number 4, was caught behind for one. Compelling figures in 1st Grade demanded a recall and he played two games in 1967-68 and one final game at Adelaide against South Australia in February 1970 where ironically, his final innings for the State saw him post his highest score for NSW, 46 in NSW’S loss by 195 runs.

In Grade cricket, he captained Sydney’s 1st Grade to the Final of the ‘Rothman’s Knock Out’ limited overs competition.

In 1975-76, Trevor played his one season with Sydney University, scoring 269 runs in 1st Grade before returning to the Sydney Club of which he was President from 1977 until the Club was removed from the competition in 1985.

He had studied Law at Sydney University, graduating in 1968, and he practised as a solicitor and then as a barrister, a long-term and respected member of 2 Selborne Chambers.

The Club honours a remarkable life and extends its condolences to Mr Boyd’s family and friends. His funeral was held on 25 March 2022. 

His Grade Cricket record for Glebe, Sydney and Sydney University:

Games    Inns   Not outs   Highest Score      Runs   Average   100s   50s

255        278      32             151no            6953      29.26        6        34

Written by Ian Fisher (who captained Trevor at Sydney Club and played with him at Sydney University)

John Tomko

JOHN TOMKO

Died in December 2021.

John was the father of former 1st Grade captain, Craig Tomko.

While studying Engineering, John played for the Club during 1955-56 and 1956-57 including four games in 1st Grade (SUCC 1st Grade cap no406).

These were grim seasons for the Club. In 1955-56, 2nd Grade won four games, 3rd Grade had one victory, PGs did not win a game. The exception was the 1st Grade’s position in the semi-finals in 1956-57. John scored runs steadily in grades below 1st Grade in his first season (283 runs including 48 against Wests in PG) and showed promise with his off spinners until he made his debut in 1st Grade in two games at the end of 1955-56. He played two more games in the 1st Grade side that made the semi-finals, but his Grade career finished when he took up a position in Canada as an engineer.

When Craig played for the Club from 1980, John once again followed the Club’s fortunes on most Saturdays along with his wife, Margaret.

In games for which records survive, John’s career with SUCC was:

1955-57. 32 innings, 4 not outs, 48 highest score, 353 runs, 12.1 average. 11 wickets for 133, 12.1 average.

James Rodgers

Alan Crompton OAM

ALAN CROMPTON OAM

28 February 1941- 20th April 2022

(Eulogy spoken at Alan Crompton’s funeral service)

There is not one person, who doesn’t feel an enormous debt of gratitude to Alan Crompton. Heartfelt tributes have poured in from far and wide. We are united in grief, while we express our heartfelt sympathies to Gabby and Jo and all Alan’s family.

Those of us who knew Alan so well, those of us who played with him in the same cricket club for so long, the Sydney University Cricket Club, couldn’t be more proud than to see him so deservedly celebrated here today, even though we are somewhat diminished by his passing.

Simply put, Alan served the game which we all love with such a generous heart and with a graciousness that has been unsurpassed in our 159 year history.

The spirits of those who’ve built our club and who have gone before us are once again with us here today. They stand tall among the generations of our club, our University. Beginning with John Kinloch and Monty Faithfull to Tom Garrett, to Syd Webb, to Skip Morris, to Jim Mackie, to Mick O’Sullivan. They’re all here in spirit to honor the most recent addition to their number, Alan Crompton. The game we play is so much the better for their abiding guardianship of it and their indelible influence and example on all of us.

Incidentally, Judy O’Sullivan said that somewhere in the Elysian Fields, Micko is bowling into a gentle breeze while Crommo crouches expectantly behind the stumps.

The Club we all have played for is in its current golden era undoubtedly because of their vision and in particular because of Alan’s unfettered enthusiasm spanning the generations.  In all that time, no one has served for as long as Crommo did. 61 years of continuous service. Firstly, as a player, a peerless wicket keeper, a batsman who scored over 7000 runs in Grade cricket. A Premiership winner, a captain. Then, as he scaled the administrative ladder, Honorary Secretary of the Club, a Vice President, Delegate to and Chairman of Cricket NSW, Chairman of the Australian Cricket Board (now Cricket Australia), Manager of numbers of Australian teams overseas including the victorious World Cup winning side of 1987, President of the Club for 22 years, Life Member, Patron of the Club for another 20 years. A Blue for Cricket, a Gold for Cricket, a Blue for Baseball. Honoured by Her Majesty in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

Now all those achievements and all those titles don’t necessarily tell us much about the man, except that one word in front of ‘Secretary’. ‘Honorary’. All Crommo’s indefatigable work has been largely unpaid, unrewarded financially but mightily rewarding for everyone else who appreciated him, respected him, admired him, loved him.

His profession was the Law. We remember that he was part of the only legal team in the world to defeat Mr Packer in court at the time of World Series Cricket. But cricket was his vocation.

Now we all know that Crommo has had a rather deserved reputation for the verbose, loquacious, prolix, periphrastic even. Brevity was a word that never appeared in his lexicon. Ed Cowan once observed that in the inflexibility of the twitter age where messages were reduced to 140 characters, 140 minutes was still not long enough for Crommo.

I know that his meticulous and legalistic attention to detail could be exasperating but it always provided opportunities for good-natured satire.

In 1963, he headed a sub-committee which was to report on the issue of practice balls. The following resolution was faithfully recorded in the Club’s Minute Book, and it read:

“Resolved that there be a book, entitled the ‘balls book’. This book is to account for the issue of all new balls and the return of all old balls. The groundsman is to have custody of the book and to make it available for perusal by the committee from time to time as the committee shall determine.”

Priceless!

When the Club was faced with the greatest threat in its history, one of Crommo’s sub committees once again saved us. The issue concerned the price of after match beer cans in 1973, a year of rampant inflation in Australia. Should we sell them for 30 cents a can or should we put the price up to 35 cents? After rather protracted and exhaustive discussions during which the rate of inflation undoubtedly overtook the original question, Crommo reported that we could now buy 3 cans for $1.

Priceless!

On field incidents seemed to follow Crommo around. An opposition batsman hit the ball far into the outfield on No1 Oval. Fieldsmen gave chase until the ball was retrieved metres from the fence. Meanwhile, Crommo, hastening up to take the throw, slipped and careered into the stumps sending them flying. The throw was on its way as Crommo desperately tried to remake the stumps scrabbling around looking for bails amidst the wreckage. He flung his glove off just as the ball reached him and he attempted, unsuccessfully, to catch it while it sailed over his head. No one had thought to back the throw, possibly because they were all in paroxysms of laughter. The batsmen kept running, the stumps still askew. The result? 5 runs. Bails still scattered on the ground. Crommo searching desperately for his abandoned glove.

Priceless!

As with everything on and off the field, Crommo was unfailingly cheerful and optimistic even in the face of potential disaster.

He looked after a club where friendships are cherished, where relationships are lasting, where generosity and self-sacrifice are mixed with much laughter and fun and enjoyment. Crommo lived those ideals, especially through his natural generosity. Time after time, he put the club first, the team first, other players first. Significantly, the club always went back to Crommo.

When we won, Crommo was gracious. When we lost, Crommo was gracious.

He won two 2nd Grade premierships, 16 years apart. The tears of joy that he shed after the last thrilling moments of the pulsating Grand Final of 1980 were proof to the younger players of just how much this triumph really meant.

In Crommo’s estimation, people were at their best when playing cricket with a generosity of spirit. He gave us the gift of time and a deictic example of playing for the sheer love of the game, a love of the club and of its players that endured for 61 years, not through money or facilities or mercenary players but by sheer goodness where he made sure that each player and each supporter belonged from the very first moments that they turned up, where sacrifices were made to invigorate, to build, to sustain the community of  Sydney University cricket.

It's hard to think of the Sydney University Cricket Club without thinking of Crommo. He has mirrored the club to itself and he has given expression to its soul.

Now, Crommo is gone….

But not quite.

He could never leave on time anyway.

But his undoubted legacy lives on.

Even though something of our soul goes with him.

We will carry on in his name because his was an exemplary life, lived for us, in the service of others.

And as we say in ancient Rome

Euge bone serve et fidelis.

Well played, Crommo. Good and faithful servant of our great game!

Well played. Good and faithful friend of us all.

James Rodgers

Dr PAUL NORMAN WANSEY, MBBS

Doctor Wansey died on 17 March 2022 aged 80.

Educated at the Shore School, Paul represented the Sydney University Rugby Club in 1st Grade and played one season for SUCC in 3rd Grade in 1963-64, captained by Ross Richards, a side that was runners up, losing the Final to Petersham. Paul scored 96 runs and took 11 cheap wickets 

The Club’s sympathies are extended to his family especially to his wife, Vicki, to their four daughters and to their five grandchildren.

James Rodgers

JAMES (Jim) O’BRIEN, OAM

Jim O’Brien died on 14 March 2022 aged 74.

Jim O’Brien  played just one season for the Club, in 1966-67, but he also played 1st Grade for Waverley, Nth Sydney and UNSW between 1969 and 1981.

He was a neat keeper who kept wickets in 2nd Grade for SUCC in 1966-67 at a time when the Club was replete with keepers of 1st Grade standard: John Madgwick, who represented NSW Colts, Alan Crompton and Scott Harbison all stood ahead of him. His 2nd Grade captain, Ted Le Couteur, however, wrote: “Rarely are the seconds favoured with such a good keeper.” He scored valuable runs and took 20 dismissals, in addition to 12 dismissals he took  in the Poidevin Gray side and was always considered to be a fine team player who was universally liked and respected.  

In 136 games in 1st Grade for his three other clubs, Jim scored 1668 runs @17.9 and took 221 dismissals. He played in UNSW’s initial 1st Grade premiership in 1976-77.

Jim did wonderful work for people with disabilities including those who played wheelchair sports and was deservedly honoured with the Order of Australia Medal.

The Club’s sympathies are extended to Jim’s family especially to his two daughters and two grandchildren.

SUCC 1966-67

2ND Grade and Poidevin Gray: 196 runs and 32 dismissals.

James Rodgers

Obituary - Dr. Neil Thompson (Othopaedic Surgeon)

Dr. Neil Thompson

Cricket, and particularly Sydney University Cricket Club, played a significant part in the life of Dr Neil Thompson who died on 30th October 2021, aged 81.

Neil grew up in Bondi, went to school at Bondi Public School and Sydney Boys’ High School. He was capable and competitive at many sports.  He was in the Sydney High 1st XI, and also in the rugby, tennis and athletic teams.

While at University, where he started in Pharmacy but quickly moved to Medicine, he initially played with Waverley Club and reached first grade.  He then moved to SUCC where, in the 1959-60 season he played second grade. The annual report (which contained some pretty blunt comments) noted: “It would seem obvious that each batsman must concentrate heavily on developing a defensive technique before he can hope to be a successful candidate for First Grade cricket. This problem applies to …….., Neil Thompson and others”!!  The batting highlights included “Neil Thompsons’s 62 against Cumberland.”  His batting figures were 13 innings, aggregate 116, average 13.6.  He was mentioned in the bowling figures for taking one wicket for 21 runs.  In the Poidevin-Gray Shield competition he scored 37 and took 1-13 against his old club Waverley, took 2-25 against Randwick, 2-49 against Western Suburbs, and scored 66 against St George.  In the intervarsity match against Melbourne, he scored 25 in the second innings but Sydney was thrashed by an innings!

The following season (1960-61) he played mainly in third grade where his highest score from 3 innings was 50, he took 2 wickets at 28.5, 3 catches, and he was “particularly outstanding” in the field.  He (and several others) “played one or two good innings marked by real evidence of concentration” (some progress from the previous report!). 

In the 1961-62 season he scored 108 against Combined High Schools and 116 against the RAAF.  In second grade he scored 198 runs in total and took 16 wickets. He also had four innings in third grade for a total of 102 runs and took four wickets. The Annual Report records that “Some of Neil’s sixes were quite fantastic.”

In the 1962-63 season he played two matches in first grade scoring 24 runs but played more in second grade where he was part of the premiership team. He took 30 wickets with best efforts of 3-17 and 5-49 in one game and 5-49 in another. He was described as an “under-rated” bowler who “used the new ball very intelligently and what he lacked in speed he made up in guile”.  This might refer to his left arm “banana ball” which came into a right-handed batsman from a long way out!

The 2nd XI in 1963-64 were again premiers.  The report states: “Neil had a most successful season taking 31 wickets and scoring 192 runs. He was most consistent and his 7-38 against Manly was as a result of a magnificent spell of bowling.” That year, in the intervarsity against Queensland Uni he took 7-50 and 2-20.

The following season the seconds won the premiership again. Neil was thus a significant contributor to three successive premierships, particularly as he scored a century in the final. He also took 18 wickets.

During his university days he also played cricket for the St Michael’s Vaucluse church team in their competition.

After graduation from university, he worked at Parramatta Hospital as a resident medical officer and played cricket with the University Veterans. In 1965-66 he had 5 innings with a top score of 59 and collected 22 wickets.  The next season he batted 11 times with a top score of 61 and collected 30 wickets.  He was selected in the combined City and Suburban team.

He travelled to the UK to further his medical education and worked in Liverpool and Cambridge. He also met and married Elaine, gained his FRCSE and FRCS diplomas and they had their first child.  Life was busy!  They later had two daughters. While living at Cambridge he played with the Cambridge Travellers team as well as hospital teams.

The family returned to Australia in 1972. He trained further in Orthopaedics and obtained his FRACS.  He resumed cricket with the Veterans.  In the 1972-73 season he batted nine times for a highest score of 61 and collected 29 wickets.  In the 1973-74 season he had 7 innings with highest score of 53 and collected 22 wickets. The report for the 1975-76 year states that he “made a welcome return. He batted and bowled as if he had never been away from the game”. The report however quotes only one innings of 27!

In 1976 he made another good decision and moved to Lismore to live.  He was the only Orthopaedic Surgeon resident in the town, was on call all the time, and was very busy. He continued to provide a quality practice but was later to welcome other Orthopaedic surgeons to town.  He retired after 25 years of dedicated service to the local community. During this time, he continued to play occasional games of cricket, notably in the annual Doctors v. Lawyers game.  His bowling was restricted by a lower back problem. This hampered his golf too. He played tennis regularly.

In 1978 while in Hobart attending a meeting of the Australian Orthopaedic Association he was involved in climbing a telegraph pole to rescue a young man behaving erratically.  He received the Australian Commendation for Brave Conduct and the Silver Medal of the Royal Humane Society.  This was an example of his care for fellow humans.

In retirement he was not idle.  He played tennis and occasional golf and managed to find time to write a book entitled “Sawbones, Saddle Burns, and Soothing Balms” on the history of medical practice in the Richmond Valley from 1866-1986.

Throughout his life and particularly while at University playing cricket Neil made good friends who remained friends for life.  He was great company, with comments that were insightful and showed his quirky sense of humour.  He was part of a large and loving family.  He was described by his eulogist as “a gentleman and a great bloke”

Scott Harbison, who played for SUCC with Neil.

Obituary - Lindsay Graeme Foster (1951 -2021

 LINDSAY GRAEME FOSTER SC (1951 – 2021)

Lindsay Foster died 21 November 2021 aged 70.

He played two seasons, 1974-75 and 1976-77, with SUCC having previously played five seasons with Northern District.

Those two seasons were mightily successful and memorable for the University 3rd Grade side that was Runners Up and then Minor Premiers under the astute and inclusive captaincy of the much-respected Rob Thomas. Lindsay was an integral part in the success and harmony of those sides.

He had been educated at Knox College where he ‘took under his wing’ younger students who may have been otherwise overawed. One of those was Chris Elder who especially remembers Lindsay’s kindness and thoughtfulness towards him. Those characteristics, and a chuckling laugh that put everyone at ease, were to remain with him throughout a distinguished life.

Lindsay studied Arts/Law, was later called to the NSW Bar and was eventually appointed to the Bench.

Some of those who shared those seasons in the mid 1970s have written with much appreciation for Lindsay’s life and influence.

Rob Thomas his captain.

“He was an enthusiastic and jovial team-mate and club member; a stylish batsman with a flourishing cover drive; not only a contributor on the field but great company after stumps. I also recall him as a very dedicated law student. He carved out a successful career as a barrister and as a respected judge.”

Dr Lawrie Bott

“That year of cricket (1974-75) was the most enjoyable of my career…a wonderful bunch of people and future life-long friends.

Lindsay was one of the enthusiastic, happy players who allowed us to achieve great heights that season…a brave batsman with an excellent cover drive.”

Steve Ward

“As I try to picture him, every time the image that emerges is both youthful and cheerful. I cannot recall him without a smile on his face. He was typical of that team that provided me with a stable and highly enjoyable home.”

Chris McRae

“I used to catch up with Lindsay when Trinity played Knox in the Rugby, discussing legal matters…like the lousy refereeing!”

Jock Baird

I knew Lindsay in a number of other respects apart from our playing days: as a barrister when he was at the Bar. I, as solicitor, would brief him (and sometimes be opposed to him), as proud fathers when our respective sons were in the Knox Grammar rugby U13 – U15A’s where we spent many a convivial winter’s Saturday morning doing what fathers do, standing on muddy sidelines on such occasions (mostly drinking coffee to stay warm and discussing the plight of the world, or at least the Wallabies), and finally when Lindsay had been elevated to the Bench and I would appear before him (he was very kind to me and forgiving of my inadequacies on more than one occasion).

He was always good company, especially over a glass of red wine or two, with a lively wit and an engaging smile that often foretold some piercing observation or remark (but never delivered with any malice). He was generous with his time to those who sought his advice and never condescending to those less fortunate or who did not possess his powerful intellect: a true gentleman and scholar. Even when he became extremely ill  he never lost his sense of humour or his curiosity at the world, but bore his pain stoically and with incredible strength and optimism.

Lindsay of course had a very distinguished legal career. I knew him as a friend: a good cricketer, raconteur and bon vivant. We shall all miss him.”

The Club offers its sincere sympathy to Lindsay’s wife, Anne, and to their four children.

James Rodgers

PAUL FRAME - Obituary

PAUL FRAME (1947-2021, SUCC 1968-71)

Paul Frame joined SUCC in 1968 in the final year of his Science degree, having already spent two seasons at Waverley, where he showed early promise in his first year including what was to be his top score in Sydney Grade cricket with 109 not out, and a season aggregate of 372 runs at an average of 31.  The 67/68 season at Waverley was less productive with 14 innings yielding only 133 runs @ 10, and only one wicket. Earlier he had attended Vaucluse Boys’ High.

So, he turned to new pastures at Uni, where he spent 3 seasons, primarily as an attacking batsman, both as opener and middle order, but also a useful leg-spinner.  He was an outstanding fieldsman, with sure hands up close, and piercing throw from covers or similar, a skill further honed during winter with SU Baseball Club, a common combination for cricketers in those days before the baseball comp switched to summer.    Ahead of his time, he was active vocally and clapping to exhort extra effort, perhaps a trait developed on the baseball field.

He oscillated between grades in 68/69, scoring well in 2nds (247 runs @ 35), but in 1sts his 9 innings accumulated only 120 runs.  However, against Wests, Paul scored 75 and shared a match winning 147 partnership for the 8th wicket with Rick Lee (who scored 104) against a first-class attack including some and perhaps all of Corling, Rhodes, Gilmour and Simpson.  Paul opened the SUCC batting on the legendary IV tour to Hobart, and joined the post-match drive to see Lake Pedder before it was flooded.

Similarly, in 69/70, some strong performances in 2nds included a top score of 94, but promotion yielded only 45 runs from 8 innings.  However, he did collect 4-66 versus Gordon, his best bowling performance for the Club.   The same pattern occurred in his final season with the club (394 @43 in 2nds, but only 104 from 6 innings in 1sts).  He was also a member of the committee in 70/71.

His friendly grin, quips, and keen enthusiasm during and after the game are well remembered (together with his lovely girlfriend Julie, later to become his wife, albeit their marriage did not last).

In those days, only the captain was able to play for SUCC more than 2 years after graduation.  So, in 71/72, he transferred to North Sydney, where he scored 367 @23.

Queensland’s sunshine attracted him north, as well as work, plus beloved mangoes (of which it is said he ate so many while picking during a work holiday that he developed an allergy).

In 1972, he joined University of Queensland CC, where his 39 first grade matches yielded 999 runs @ 30, plus 9 wickets @ 12.  His highest score was 170, which he made during a club 1st grade record partnership for the 3rd wicket of 230 with John Buchanan, who later became Australia’s coach.   Overall, he had 5 seasons with UQCC, where he also tallied 577 runs in 22 innings in second grade.

In 1978, he was awarded an MBA by the University of Queensland. In addition he obtained a Graduate Diploma in Education by correspondence from the University of South Australia.  In 1979, his career took on an international focus, by joining the World Bank and later the United Nations, working in areas of education, commerce and mining.   His assignments included stints in UK, Jamaica, Indonesia and United Arab Emirates. 

Over the last few years we have been informed “Paul had a long and stoic battle with a number of debilitating health issues. He died in hospital in Darwin (in October 2021, aged 74), surrounded by his loving family and his devoted and loving wife, Yanti”.

Peter James

ERIC STOCKDALE - A TRIBUTE

Eric Stockdale : A Tribute

Eric Stockdale was born on 16 August 1927 and died on 7 August 2021, aged 93.

He was the fifth oldest of those who had played for the Sydney University Cricket Club and who are still living.

Kendal Binns was 98 in March; Greg Scahill was 97 in June; Bert Alderson will be 97 in December 2021; Ken Alderson was 94 in June; and Eric Stockdale died just eleven days short of his ninety fourth birthday.

Throughout his long life, he was inquisitive, curious, always willing to explore, unfailingly buoyant. He took an intense interest in others for whom he was mentor and friend but he never took himself too seriously despite his strong views. Donald Scott-Orr, who played cricket and baseball with him at University, remembers him as “roughly handsome, lanky, a somewhat awkward looking sportsman but very effective.”

Eric was born to Alma and Alec (Alexander) Stockdale at Sans Souci and was educated at Sans Souci Primary, Kogarah Intermediate and Canterbury Boys’ High (where he played in the 1st XV) before he gained his electrical contracting licence, joining his father who was Secretary of the Electrical Trades Union. A Commonwealth Scholarship, however, enabled him to change direction and to enter Sydney University in 1951 and to commence studies for a Bachelor of Arts.

He had learned to play cricket on a home-made wicket in his grandfather’s market garden in Sans Souci. His grandfather had emigrated from the north of England with a love of cricket which he passed on to young Eric who supplemented this practical knowledge with an intellectual study of the game, relying on Sir Donald Bradman’s magisterial ‘The Art of Cricket’. Eric could have written an instructional book on cricket himself. He became an admired technical batting coach whom his players respected implicitly for his depth of knowledge.

At University, he was a fine baseballer and an agile fieldsman on the cricket field who won the Club’s inaugural ‘FE McElhone Fielding Award’ in 1955-56. He often opened the batting and in his first season, 1951-52, in 3rd Grade, he went in first with Donald Noble Scott-Orr who had been named after two Australian Test captains, Donald Bradman and MA Noble, his uncle. That 3rd Grade side lost only to Petersham in the final round to finish runners up. Stockdale’s 416 runs for the season included his only century in Grade Cricket. Scott-Orr’s 411 runs included productive partnerships with his older teammate.

It took two seasons before he was summoned to 1st Grade (1st Grade cap no399) for the new year’s game against Gordon at the SCG in January 1954. His 1st Grade career was to remain strangely unfulfilled during ten years. He scored runs here and there; his bowling was hardly used until much later; his fielding was as sharp as ever; he spent more time in the lower grade than he did in 1st Grade. All the while, however, he was accumulating experiences and knowledge which he was then to pass on as a coach to so many younger cricketers and he persevered with reslience. He immersed himself in undergraduate life, playing Inter-Varsity games (memorably by recording a ‘pair’ in his first game in 1951-52 against Melbourne University), serving on the Committee of the Club, and making friends across the grades. Graham Reed remembers him as someone “we all liked. He hung around a lot, went to practices regularly, was a good club man who tried hard without a good deal of success.” He enjoyed Friday nights at ‘The Trots’ down the hill at Harold Park with numbers of the Club’s players.

His off spinners were hardly used until 1958-59 in 2nd Grade when he took 31 wickets (he had taken only 13 wickets in his previous seven seasons). Even in that 2nd Grade side he could have had many more had ‘countless catches” not been dropped.

He played two seasons with Waverley (1st Grade cap no347) and, aged 35, he finished his Grade career with Paddington. By that stage, his batting had deteriorated but his off spinners were increasingly productive.

He gained teaching qualifications from Sydney Teachers’ College and the University of New England and embarked on a teaching career which took him to a number of Independent Schools, Cranbrook, Newington, Kings and Kogarah Marist Brothers, where he taught English, Economics, French and History and coached cricket, rugby and hockey. He was entrusted with positions of authority at a number of schools as he was variously Master in Charge of Cricket, 1st XI coach, 2nd XV coach, and Housemaster. When he was at Newington, he was the GPS Convenor of Cricket and coach of the GPS 1st XI.

Perhaps his own struggles as a cricketer made him an even  better coach as he had a sound intellectual and technical grasp of the game and an ability to explain and encourage. He also understood the necessity to play the game to the highest level of sportsmanship.

He was also innovative as a coach and as a teacher. He coached the 1st XI at Newington with imaginative drills and tactics. Batting, in particular, improved considerably in his sides. When he was Housemaster of Macquarie House at Kings, he reorganized the House structures, instituting a fathers’ committee and a mothers’ committee for the House.

When he was 1st XI coach at Newington and Kings, he restructured their training regimen and introduced coaching clinics within the nascent NSW Cricket coaching structure and games against senior grade cricketers.

In more recent years, Eric attended the Club’s sesquicentenary dinner at the SCG where he was much sought after by his dwindling band of teammates and by those whom he had coached before they themselves played for the Club.

Then, in 2015, he was named as one of the ‘Living Luminaries’ of the Club at the SUSF cricket lunch.

He was an inspiration to younger cricketers and he had that endearing, whimsical ability, according to Donald Scott-Orr, of “regarding more traditional people as taking themselves too seriously.”

The Club’s deepest sympathies and respect are expressed to Eric’s wife, Bev, and to their two daughters, Liani and Erika.

                                                     Matches   Inns   NO   HS   Runs  Ave         Wkts Runs Ave

SUCC 1ST Grade          1953-59           19        22       3     56    279   14.6          1   108  108.0

Waverley 1st Grade   1959-60             2          2        0       8        9     4.5          1    54     54.0

Paddington 1st Grade 1961-63           26      13    21     155   11.9         29  747    25.8

SUCC all grades          1951-59            125      10   100  1940  16.0         44   999   22.6.

Acknowledgements:

Liani Stockdale (daughter), Hartley Anderson (SUCC), John Baird (ex TKS), Lawrie Bott (ex NC), Colin Clowes (CNSW Librarian) John Osborne (ex NC), Jenny Pearce (TKS Archivist), Michael Punch (former SIC 1st XI coach), Graham Reed (SUCC), David Roberts (NC Archivist), Donald Scott-Orr (SUCC).

CNSW: Cricket New South Wales.

NC: Newington College.

SIC: St Ignatius’ College.

SUCC: Sydney University Cricket Club.

TKS: The Kings School.

JAMES RODGERS

Dr Roger Arnott Scamps, died 15 May 2021, aged 80.

Roger Scamps, who was an opening batsman, played with SUCC from 1961 to 1966 while studying Medicine after graduating from Knox College. His younger brother, Phil (Philippe), an opening bowler, also played for the Club at about the same time.

Their parents were Pierre Rene Aristide Scamps born 1916 and Dorothy Rogers (nee Arnott) 1915-1992. Mrs Scamps was directly related to William Arnott, the founder of Arnott’s Biscuits.

Roger alternated between 3rd Grade, 4th Grade and 5th Grade over these four seasons, captaining 5ths briefly in 1962-63. He scored runs regularly and consistently, especially in the 4th Grade semi-finalist side  of 1963-64 where his 410 runs were scored at 37.2 average and which included his highest score for the Club, 131. In 1965-66, his 3 innings in 4ths before graduation produced 238 runs at 119. Unfortunately, full statistical records of his career have been lost in the mists of time. Often, statistics for the season contained the first dozen or so batsmen in each grade followed by a list of names only of ‘also batted’ or ‘also bowled’. Roger Scamps scored well over 1000 runs for the Club.

The Club’s sincere sympathies are expressed to Roger’s wife Jennifer and to all his extended family.

James Rodgers

Obituary - John Richard Roy Simpson

John Richard Roy Simpson - Died 15th May 2020 Aged 69

OBITUARY.

The Club has only recently heard of John’s death and our sincere but belated sympathies are expressed to his family.

John was educated at Scots College and he subsequently played for and organised the Scots Old Boys’ sides for many years.

He played for the Club after leaving school and while studying Law at the University.

In 3rd Grade and 4th Grade, he was an effective medium pacer who always took cheap wickets. In two seasons, he took 60 wickets and, as a contrast, scored just 63 runs. His most productive season came in 3rd and 4th Grades in 1968-69 when he took 38 wickets at 16.

‘John was  well known to many SUCC players in the 1970s and 1980s from Saturday night drinks at the Grandstand, which he would occasionally attend after playing for Scots Old Boys at St Andrew’s College Oval.’

John began his professional life with Marsh, Harvey and Cropper and, since 2010, he had been executive Lawyer in Clinch, Long, Woodbridge.

 James Rodgers

MICHAEL FORBES - RIP (1952 -2021)

   MICHAEL FORBES (1952-2021

The Club is saddened to hear of the death, on 8 March, of Mick Forbes. He was 68. )

Mick spent 3 seasons with the Club, 1975-78, playing mainly 2nd and 3rd Grades as a right arm medium pacer and effective lower order batsman whose statistics are most impressive. He had previously played in the Sutherland Shire. He was popular with his team mates who appreciated his wholehearted attitude and his pleasant personality. 

The Club extends its sincere sympathy to Mick’s wife, Kerry, and to their two children.

MICHAEL FORBES  SUCC 1975-1978

 Inns    NO  HS  Runs   Ave      Wickets  Runs    Ave

   47     7    54   483  12.4       135    1932   14.3

James Rodgers

RIP Professor AD (David) Buckingham CBE, FRS, FAA

Professor AD (David) Buckingham CBE, FRS, FAA died on 4 February 2021 aged 91.

Professor Buckingham was one of the  most distinguished who have ever played for the Club.

An appreciation from the ‘Sydney Morning Herald’ of 3 March 2021 appears below.

Professor Buckingham played for the Club from 1949 (beginning in 4th Grade in 1949-50) until 1953 (finishing with two seasons in 1st Grade), mainly as a top order batsmen and occasional off spinner. He made his only century in low-scoring seasons, when his 103 was instrumental in 2nd Grade’s victory over Cumberland in early 1952, the game before he was deservedly promoted to 1st Grade. He was awarded a Blue for Cricket in 1952.

When he studied at Cambridge University, he represented Cambridge in ten 1st class games. Although he spent most of his  years in England after graduation from the University of Sydney, Professor Buckingham continued to take a practical interest in the Club and was a Member of the SUCC Foundation.

1st class cricket 1955-60:

Matches Innings Not Outs Highest Score Runs  Ave    Wkts  Runs Ave

    10           20           1               61                349   18.4        0      43       - 

SUCC 1st Grade 1951-53:

Innings     Not Outs      Highest Score    Runs   Ave     Wkts   Runs   Ave

15                 2                    67no               501      29.5        0        11     -

SUCC all grades 1949-53

72                7                    103                1586     24.4         3       84     28.0

James Rodgers

The Sydney Morning Herald - Wednesday, 3 Mar 2021 - Page 34

‘A laser-like focus on the forces of the universe’

Professor A. David Buckingham was one of the world’s leading molecular and optical scientists. He explored the fundamentals of physical phenomena as diverse as intermolecular forces (relevant to aspects of molecular biology and genomics) and nonlinear optics (intrinsic to laser-based technology and telecommunications). Based in England for most of his career, he was clearly proud of his Australian origins.

David grew up in Pymble with parents Reginald and Grace (nee Elliot) and twin siblings Joslin and Michael. Reginald and Grace had emigrated separately from England to Australia before World War I. Reginald worked for Dalgety and Company Limited, dealing with stud animals. Grace had trained as a nurse and was a pioneer of Australian baby health clinics. David’s unusual first name was in memory of Grace’s brother, John Amyand Elliot, who died at Gallipoli in 1915 aged 24.

David was sent to Barker College, where he excelled at cricket and on the rugby field . Both David and his brother, Michael, entered Sydney University’s faculty of science, where each won a University Medal (Michael’s in physics and David’s in chemistry) before they took their respective doctorates in England.

At Sydney University, David’s BSc Honours and MSc research projects were supervised by Professor RJW Le Fevre, a renowned physical-organic chemist. David’s cohort of firstyear undergraduates in 1948 was exceptionally gifted, including four who later became fellows of The Royal Society (FRS). Many of his contemporaries went overseas for doctoral studies before returning to enhance the pool of academic staff in Australia’s maturing universities.

In 1953, he was awarded the Shell Postgraduate Scholarship and chose to study for a PhD at Cambridge in the Theoretical Chemistry Department headed by Professor JE Lennard-Jones – a famous name in the field of intermolecular forces. However, Lennard-Jones was moving away from Cambridge and David was supervised by Dr John Pople, who was only four years older than he (and who went on to win a Nobel Prize in 1998). Together, they made important scientific discoveries that are significant to this day.

After gaining a cricket blue at Sydney University in 1953, David played rugby in Cambridge and English first-class cricket (1955-60 ). He later became one of the longest-serving (1990-2009 ) presidents of the Cambridge University Cricket Club.

After completing his PhD, Buckingham held chemistry lectureships at Oxford University with college responsibilities at Christ Church. Although primarily a theoretician, he also initiated key experiments at the National Physical Laboratory in Teddington.

There, Dr RL Disch and he accomplished an ingenious experiment to measure the electric quadrupole moment of carbon dioxide molecules. The ‘‘ Buckingham’ ’ is now the CGS unit (centimetre, gram and second measurement system) for this structural property of any molecule, indicating its charge distribution and strength of interactions with other molecules.

His equipment was moved to Bristol University after he took up its inaugural Chair of Theoretical Chemistry in 1965. It may have surprised the Bristol management that a theoretician needed more than office space, pencils, paper and computer time.

Buckingham’s time in Bristol was cut short by his return to Cambridge in 1969 as professor of chemistry and head of the Theoretical Chemistry Department, with a fellowship in Pembroke College. He attracted an impressive team of students, research scientists and academic staff to the department, establishing an enduring tradition of research on a variety of topics.

He lectured the main quantum mechanics course at Cambridge for more than 25 years. He aimed to make his lecture material intellectually demanding, challenging the most able students in the class. With elegance and clarity, he tended to focus on a single topic and treat it as thoroughly as possible.

His lectures were often attended by other academics who were keen to learn what they could from him. On one such occasion in Bristol, he asked his audience: ‘‘ Is that clear?’’ . The loud response from a senior colleague was: ‘‘ No, it is not.’’ Using his best cricketing skills, Buckingham played a straight bat and explained, patiently and respectfully, the point that his much-respected colleague had missed. This incident was regarded in awe by PhD students who were present.

His research expertise has produced discoveries ranging widely from basic physics to molecular biology and from materials science to chemical engineering, all of which are influenced by properties of individual molecules and interactions between them. Buckingham had the foresight to recognise many such applications far in advance of their practical realisation. For instance, the nonlinear-optical phenomena inherent in electro-optic processes that he pioneered, both theoretically and experimentally, are at the core of modern fibreoptical telecommunications and laser technology.

He also made a substantial contribution to scientific publishing as editor of several leading international journals in the field of chemical physics. At scientific seminars, he would usually ask a provocative or probing question of the speaker. He had a quick-witted ability to perceive the merit or frailty of an argument, but always behaving as a perfect gentleman – sometimes with a dash of the Australian larrikin. In 1973, at a conference in Houston, Texas, his fearless questioning challenged Dr Edward Teller, so-called ‘‘ father of the hydrogen bomb’’ .

Around the world, many distinctive honours and awards were bestowed on David. These included his FRS (1975), his Foreign Associateship of the US National Academy of Sciences (1992), his CBE (1997), and his Corresponding Membership of the Australian Academy of Science (2008).

Cambridge was his final resting place. His retirement at age 67 was marked in mid-1997 by a memorable scientific and social symposium at Pembroke College. He remained active in the university and on the international conference circuit for over 20 years after that.

Throughout his distinguished career in the northern hemisphere, David maintained active interests in Australian science (not to mention cricket and politics). A warm welcome always awaited him in numerous Australian research centres. His lectures and personal interactions during regular visits to Australia influenced many young scientists here, some of whom worked in his research groups in Bristol and Cambridge.

Enriching his life were his wife, Jill (nee Bowles), children Lucy, Mark and Alice, and eight grandchildren (one born in Australia). The atmosphere in the Buckingham household was always happy and hospitable. Jill and David had met in July 1964 on a trans-Atlantic liner bound for Canada and they were married in Oxford 12 months later. Jill, a physiotherapist, brought shared interests, astute guidance and unfailing support to their partnership of more than 55 years.

Brian Orr

John Solomon, 1929-2020

The club is saddened to learn of the passing of John Solomon on 16 March 2020.

Mr Solomon, who was born on 15 October 1929, entered Sydney University after attending Scots College, and made his first Rugby Union appearances for New South Wales and Australia before his twentieth birthday. Despite the demands of his medical studies, Mr Solomon was awarded Blues for Rugby in four successive years - 1948 to 1951 - and went on to represent Australia in 14 Rugby Union Tests between 1949 and 1953.

Solomon was fast and versatile: in his first three Tests, he played in three different positions (wing, fly half and centre). In his second Test, in Auckland in 1949, he scored a try in Australia’s 16-9 victory. His team-mates on that occasion included Rex Mossop (a double international who later became better known as a commentator); Nick Shehadie (later Lord Mayor of Sydney); and Dave Brockhoff (a future Wallaby coach who also played cricket for Sydney University). Towards the end of his international career, he was Australia’s captain when the Wallabies earned a rare 18-14 victory over South Africa in Cape Town in 1953. Solomon’s impact on that game was so significant that the South African forwards chaired him from the field at full time. He made 19 appearances for New South Wales before his representative career was ended by a shoulder injury. In 2016, he was inducted into the Australian Rugby Hall of Fame.

Solomon’s cricket took third place to his studies and Rugby, but he was a gifted player who - when available - illuminated University’s teams in the early 1950s. He made his First Grade debut in December 1951, becoming First Grade cap 382. He was an aggressive batsman, and exceptional fieldsman - usually at slip, although he sometimes filled in as wicket-keeper. Between 1951 and 1955, he scored 537 runs at 22.37, at a time when pitches were uncovered, Test bowlers played Grade cricket regularly, and average scores were much lower than they are today. His highest First Grade score was 53 against Gordon in 1952-53, made in only 48 minutes with seven 4s (he was caught from the bowling of left-arm spinner Ken Eastwood, who was to play his only Test 18 years later). He scored over 1000 runs in all grades and his highest score for the club was 96 against Paddington in Second Grade in 1948-49. His team mates remember him as a gifted cricketer and outstanding team man.

John Solomon enjoyed a lengthy career as an obstetrician and gynaecologist, during which he estimated that he delivered more than 7000 babies.

The club honours a remarkable life and extends its condolences to Mr Solomon’s family, especially his son Michael and daughters Caroline, Virginia and Georgina.

RIP Dr WJ Mackie

The Club is saddened to hear of the death of Doctor WJ (Jim) MACKIE

The ‘prince of keepers’, a  gentleman cricketer, a life-long and ever gracious supporter and benefactor of the Club.

1st Grade cap no.394

Blue for cricket 1954

SUCC Foundation Life Member

SUCC Vice President since 1964

President of SUCC. 1965-73

Patron of SUCC  1990-2003.

Jim played 1st grade as a keeper from 1952 to 1956

26 innings for 412 runs at 17.9 

He then played for the SUCC Veterans into the 1980s and 1990s when he was aged in his 60s. 

He was a dentist. His wife, Helen, predeceased him. 

Our thoughts go out to his family and friends at this sad time.

RIP Mrs Betty O'Sullivan

Mrs Betty O'Sullivan died last Saturday just short of her ninety first birthday. 

Betty was the mother of Mick  O'Sullivan, former 1st Grade captain and former Chairman of SUCC and mother-in-law of Judy. 

Betty was strongly associated with the Club and she ran the canteen when Mick was 1st Grade captain. 

The Club's deepest sympathies are expressed to all the O'Sullivan family.

RIP Sir Eric McClintock

Sir Eric McClintock died peacefully on 27 March aged 99. He played for the Club in 1938-39. A more detailed obituary will appear in the 2017-18 Annual Report.

This leaves Kendal Binns, Greg Scahill and Bert Alderson, who will all turn 94 this year, as the Club’s oldest former players.

Vale Helen Mackie

It is with great sadness we inform you that Helen Mackie, wife of Sydney University Cricket Club Life Member Jim Mackie, passed away late last week. We wish to send our condolences and continue to keep Helen, Jim and their family in our prayers during this difficult time. 

Andrew Edward Towzell, 1969-2017

Andrew Edward Towzell died from cancer on 8 January 2017, aged 47.

Andrew played briefly for the Club after leaving St Ignatius’ College Riverview in 1987. He was from Wagga and most of his cricket was played there. He did, however, represent the Riverview 1st XI for two seasons (winning a GPS Premiership in 1987), the Combined GPS 1st XI, and the NSW Schools’ side as a fluent middle order batsman.

Andrew appeared for the Club in 1988-89, playing once in Fourth Grade and several times in Fifth Grade.  Altogether he scored 386 runs at an average of 42.88, with a highest score of 74.  He would have played higher grades during the season but for his return to Wagga over the vacation, but he appeared in both the semi-final and final in Fifth Grade that season.  Both matches were washed out after a handful of overs had been bowled, so that Sydney University (as the minor premiers) won the premiership.  Remarkably, University also won the Fourth Grade competition that season in identical fashion.

Andrew’s older brother, Phillip, also played for SUCC as a batsman/wicket keeper from 1985 to 1990.  Andrew subsequently enjoyed a successful career in commercial real estate. 

The Club's deepest sympathy is extended to Andrew's parents, his brother, and especially to his wife and two children.