Ivyn Bettridge: worker for suburban cricket

Press, 17 August 1979, Page 24

Ivyn Bettridge: worker for suburban cricket

Mr Ivyn Bettridge, one of the most industrious and h i g h 1 y-regarded administrators for the Christchurch Suburban Cricket Association, died in Christchurch yesterday. The association’s president since 1970, Mr Bettridge had recently been preparing material for a booklet to mark its seventy-fifth anniversary next year. Few officials in any Canterbury sport could match the exceptional work record compiled by Mr Bettridge. He was first elected to the management com-

f mittee in 1949 and was the I secretary for eight years ■ from 1950 . — i In the normal course , of ■ events life memberships of i sporting organisations are not bestowed until an t administrator retires from I office, but the suburban • association recognised Mr : Bettridge in such a manner ' in 1976. A heavy work-load held ' no fears for Mr Bettridge. I He was simultaneously pres-, : ident, a member of the man-, • agement committee and the I appointments, emergency, ■ cancellation, publicity and

fund-raising sub-committees, and delegate to the Canterbury Cricket Association! Mr Bettridge was also a popular gate attendant at Lancaster Park in .the cricket and rugby- seasons, and for a number of years supplied suburban cricket reports to “The Preset*.*' “Nothing was too much trouble to Ivyn,” the association’s patron (Mr D. N. Stokes) said yesterday, "He. was most conscientious, and never stopped wprking. It is impossible to detail his vast contribution — he did so much for suburban cricket.”