Cricket personality dies

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33460, 15 February 1974, Page 10

Cricket personality dies

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON. Widely regarded as New Zealand’s greatest cricketer, Mr C. S. (Stewie) Dempster died at his Miramar home on Wednesday night, aged 70.

‘ Mr Dempster was recognised in his own lifetime for his feats on the field, and he built on this in recent years [with his dedication to coaching youngsters in Wellington “His passing will be imourned by all cricketers and I cricket enthusiasts through[out and beyond New Zealand,” the president of the I New Zealand Cricket Council (Mr L. J. Castle) said in Weljlington yesterday.

[ “In his time in the fore-, 'front in the world as an opening batsman, he represented New Zealand with great distinction and Leicester in England, where he played so much of his cricket prior to the Second World War.” Mr Dempster lived by the; Basin Reserve when he began playing at the age of eight.' One of his memories was of; 10 innings — nine centuries' and a 99 — in one season for the Wellington Boys Institute. FIRST SEASON He had an average of [50.80 in his first season of [senior cricket when he was 17. He represented Wellington first in that season — 1921 — beginning a run of 39 matches before his retireiment after the 1948 season.

i His retirement was forced by | i Tailing eye-sight. Four years after his first- I i class debut he averaged 65.72 in 15 innings. His test ; career was cut comparatively i ; short because, after breaking i Hall batting records as a Wei- i Hington Plunket Shield player < . and then as a New Zealand i [I representative (he had an [average of 55 at home for . ; New Zealand, 59 abroad). Mr . /Dempster went to England. [ i ; After a period as an ama- ; iteur in the Ribblesdale League, he became the financial secretary of the Leicestershire County Cricket Club.; 11 the only way the county! f could get him. >[ His performances for them, •[were such that but for the •[stringent residential qualifif,cations. Mr Dempster would' ■probably have played for ■ 'England. '

In one season in <hil cricket in Wellington (1928 29), Mr Dempster scoref 1182 runs at an average o 131.33, and left senio: cricket after 1948 with 78K runs — average 75.85, 3i centuries (record), and fiw double centuries (again s record). When he retired he begai a period of coaching am administration, which m eluded a time on the Wei lington Cricket Associatioi management committee. COACHING

lhe coaching of secondar school cricketers in Welling ton was his big interest, sai ,Mr R. A. Vance, a forme chairman of the W.C.A , “an looking at what he has pre duced in the last few season' this could well be a memoru Ito him."