Obituaries | The Willows

Obituary

Nick Davidson: Former President of The Willows

It is with much sadness and shock that we learnt of the sudden passing of our past President on 8 March. Nicholas was our respected and highly valued…

30 Apr 2025

Obituary

Br Bill Dowling

Br Bill Dowling was like no other and due to his uniqueness, he will never be replaced and his loss has impacted so many people locally and all over…

30 Apr 2025

Obituary

Brian Hastings

Brian learnt his early cricket by playing ‘Test’ matches with his brothers on a 10x4 metre concrete and trellis area at the front of their Wellington…

30 Apr 2025

Obituary

Dave Quested

After success in the Linwood High School 1st XI as a right arm medium fast bowler and left handed batsman, Dave played for the Woolston WMC before…

30 Apr 2025

Obituary

Bob Wake

It was with great sadness we learned of the passing of Honorary Member Bob Wake in May 2024. Bob was an identity and iconic figure at Whanganui…

30 Apr 2025

Obituary

Bob Wills

Each year The Willows play St Kevin’s College (Oamaru) for the Bob Wills Trophy. We honour a man who not only attended the school but one who spent…

30 Apr 2025

Obituary

Richard Bromley

Richard died in Christchurch in July 2024 and will be much missed and fondly remembered by a generation of Christ’s College cricketers, and cricketing…

31 Jul 2024

Obituary

Andrew Davidson

Andrew loved his cricket. On game day he did everything from batting, bowling, scoring and even the speeches. With wonderful handwriting he wrote the…

30 Apr 2024

Obituary

Charles Wiffen

Last winter we were saddened by the death, after a long illness, of Charles, a long-standing friend and supporter of the Club. Whether in farming…

30 Apr 2024

Obituary

Merrill J Fernando

Tea has always had a special significance with our Dormer family. Mike’s Dad, Ormond Edmund “Ormy” Dormer was a tea taster and trader – he learned his…

30 Apr 2024

Obituary

Dave Biddick

David was Sports Co-ordinator at Riccarton High School for 18 years and coached and managed cricket for 25 years. He ran the administration of sport…

30 Apr 2024

Obituary

Mark Hastings: A cricketer who played with the gift of time

Vince is Regional Director, Te Whatu Ora, Health New Zealand in Christchurch and has worked all his career in the field of clinical medicine devoted…

30 Apr 2023

Obituary

Christopher Bazalgette

It was with great sadness that we learned that long time Forty Club and Willows member Christopher Bazalgette passed away in January 2023 after a long…

30 Apr 2023

Obituary

Vince Cusack: Life Member and Square Supervisor for 18 seasons

Mike Dormer insisted that cricket wickets, like male hairstyles, were “short back and sides”. The man who could deliver on both was hairdresser by…

30 Apr 2023

Obituary

Rev Fr Brian Cummings: Hon Chaplain to The Willows

MED used to enjoy telling how it all began. We had invited Fr Brian (then Rector of St Bede’s College) to take part in a Sports Persons Service at St…

30 Apr 2023

Obituary

Frank Cameron

I first came across Frank even before I got to Otago Boys’ High School. As a timorous primary school youngster in 1953 we relocated from Timaru to the…

30 Apr 2023

Obituary

Bob Fairbairn

Members of The Willows Cricket Club extend their deepest sympathies to the Fairbairn Family, on Bob’s passing. He was dad and father-in-law to Kate…

30 Apr 2023

Obituary

Bruce Murray

Many thoughts run through my mind as I pen a few words on the passing of former Wellington and New Zealand cricketer Bruce (B.A.G.) Murray. Foremost…

30 Apr 2023

Obituary

Don Neely

A former NZC President, captain of Wellington and Auckland, and author of more than 30 books on New Zealand cricket, Don was a great friend to the…

30 Jun 2022

Obituary

Alan Davidson

Alan Keith Davidson, AM, MBE (1929–2021) Member of The Willows (1994–2021) Alan Davidson, who passed away last year aged 92, was a truly great left…

12 Jun 2022

Obituary

Brian Aldridge

Brian Leslie Aldridge, QSM (1940–2021) Willows Member & Umpire (1994–2021) Brian’s sudden death came as a shock to many and messages came from umpires…

12 Jun 2022

Obituary

Fred Goodall

Frederick Robert Goodall, ONZM, ED (1938–2021) Willows Member (2006–2021) Fred was the youngest person to officiate in our Test cricket history. He…

12 Jun 2022

Obituary

Eddie Brownlee

Edwin Thomas Brownlee, QSM (1936–2022) Honorary Member of The Willows & Umpire (1995–2021) Another stalwart and long serving honorary member of The…

12 Jun 2022

Obituary

Gary Lennon

Words from a communique to the St Bede’s College community from Rector Justin Boyle.

12 Jun 2022

Obituary

Shereen Hussain

Tribute from Julie and Paul McEwan, Youth Tour Co-ordinators from the outset.

12 Jun 2022

Obituary

Farewell MED: The Willows loses its marquee player after 27 glorious summers

Michael Edmund Dormer (1937–2021) Willows Assistant Groundsman (1994–2020) Variously described as “a force of nature” or “the Napoleon of North…

30 Apr 2021

Obituary

Iain Gallaway: the voice of cricket and rugby was a man of many talents

Iain Gallaway’s deeds in cricket, sports broadcasting and the law are well known nationally and also throughout the world. Here are two tributes — one…

30 Apr 2021

Obituary

John Reid: a towering career

Former New Zealand Test opener Bruce Murray remembers the greatest cricketer he ever played with.

30 Apr 2021

Obituary

Nook Ebert

Nook’s involvement with cricket began at an early age. He represented Hutt Valley as a batsman on six occasions including in three Hawke Cup fixtures…

30 Apr 2021

Obituary

Arthur Pitcher

Arthur, a well-known identity in the Christchurch business community, was a Chief Executive with extensive experience in the leisure industry. He had…

30 Apr 2021

Obituary

Rolie Eveleigh

Rolie Eveleigh will be fondly remembered by both his peers and the wider Waitaki Boys’ High School family, as a much respected teacher (1970–2002) and…

30 Apr 2021

Obituary

John Grocott: reflections and tributes

Fondly known as Groc, his recent passing was indeed a sad time for all that knew him. I first met Groc in our primary school days, in the Wellington…

30 Apr 2020

Obituary

Derek Burrell: Don of The Willows

Derek played cricket with the same courage and determination as he did when faced with pancreatic cancer. Sadly Derek was only 63 years of age when he…

30 Apr 2016

Obituary

John Doig

26.7.1946 – 23.7.2013 A Tribute by Lifelong Friend, Dayle Hadlee

30 Apr 2014

Obituary

Peter Nancarrow

Eulogy given at St Mary’s Church, Merivale

30 Apr 2009

Obituary

Bill Duncan

The sudden and unexpected passing of Bill Duncan on 10 August 2008 at the age of 74 came as a shock to the Canterbury cricket community and was a huge…

30 Apr 2009

Obituary

Major Bob Millar

The Willows lost an important friend last year with the death of Major Bob Millar of The Salvation Army. Bob was often amongst the spectators on a…

30 Apr 2009

Obituary

Walter Hadlee

Walter Hadlee achieved a wide experience of the practicalities of the game of cricket in the course of his remarkable career. Few men have held so…

30 Apr 2007

Obituary

Godfrey Evans: England’s finest ’keeper

On a recent trip to the United Kingdom, MED met the Rev. Barry Morrison who conducted the funeral service for Godfrey Evans CBE on the 20th of…

30 Apr 2004

Obituary

Bert Sutcliffe: the dominant figure of NZ post-war cricket

In the 1950s, with John Reid, he carried a huge burden as New Zealand fought to reach some degree of parity with its international opponents after the…

30 Apr 2002

Obituary

The Don

Sir Donald George Bradman was the greatest cricketer of all time, dominating all bowlers to an extent that no one else has done before or since. He…

30 Apr 2001

Obituary

Maurice Hallam

Former Leicestershire captain Maurice Raymond Hallam died on 1 January aged 68. A stylish opening batsman, he played for Leicestershire from 1950 to…

30 Apr 2001

Obituary

Martin Donnelly

Extracts from a Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Martin Paterson Donnelly

30 Apr 2000

Obituary

Michael Henderson

Nelson author Michael Henderson gave up a public service career to dedicate himself to the art of writing without achieving the commercial success or…

30 Apr 1999

Obituary

Clive Geary

Willows member Clive Geary established a fine record in both rugby and cricket in Otago, including captaincy of the New Zealand Services rugby team…

30 Apr 1999

Obituary

Ross Bailey

At the end of the season, Club members were saddened by the news of the sudden and tragic death of Dr Ross Bailey who drowned in Sri Lanka. Ross…

30 Apr 1997