Pat Vincent dies at 57

Press, 12 April 1983, Page 40

Pat Vincent dies at 57

By

JOHN BROOKS

One of Canterbury’s most famous sporting sons, Patrick Bernard Vincent, died suddenly in the United States yesterday, at the age of 57. A resident of California for the last 20 years, he was aboard an aircraft flying from Pittsburg to San Francisco at the time of his death. The news will cause widespread grief in the Christchurch area, in particular, for Pat Vincent was a warm, endearing character as well as being a household name in Canterbury rugby. Recognition of bis footballing talents came late in his playing career — in his last season, 1956, in fact. In that memorable winter he captained the All Blacks in the first two tests of an epic series against the Springboks. Those were his only appearances for New Zealand; he was dropped for the last two tests and replaced as captain by his fellow Cantabrian, Bob Duff. In the same season he led Canterbury to victory against the South Africans and became the first man to play 100 matches of firstclass status in the red and black jersey. His first appearance had been as far back as 1945, when he attended Christchurch Teachers’ Training College. He captained Canterbury in its golden Ranfurly Shield era, in 1954-55-56, deceived the most vigilant defences with his loping runs from the base of the scrum, and was widely recognised for his basic halfback skills over many years. A stalwart of the High School Old Boys’ club, he captained the all-whites to three consecutive championship wins, in 1953-54-55. Always when he ran his tongue protruded; almost every action photograph taken of Vincent showed him with this mock warlike expression. Pat Vincent was a genuinely funny man. Pupils at the Christchurch Boys’ High School, where he taught for about 15 years, were often doubled up with mirth at his witty retorts. After Canterbury narrowly beat Fiji in 1951, One boy asked him about a reference in a newspaper to his walking away from a high ball with some Fijian forwards thundering towards him. “That’s not correct,” Vincent countered. “I ran.”' “Gosh, sir, you should be on stage,” another boy once said. “Oh?” replied Vincent, nonchalantly. “What time does it leave?" Pat Vincent, however, did

go on the stage — as a crooner. He was an antipodean Perry Como, and in the 1950 s he recorded about four 45rpm discs with the Chuck Fowler quartet for the Peak label. Has New Zealand had any other singing All Black captains? His two periods on the staff at C.B.H.S. were divided by two years of studying United States history in California. He completed his degree, and returned to Christchurch, but after another five years, during which he was a Canterbury rugby selector, he went back to live permanently in California. He spent some time in property management, and for two years was business manager of the imposing Central Towers block, in San Francisco. But he went back to his first love, teaching, and became athletics coach at St Mary’s College, Moraga. Christchurch was never far from his thoughts, and he came back two or three times with Californian rugby teams. As always, his puckish sense of humour enlivened the trips. One of the Grizzlies’ props from California was said by Pat to be a devotee of wine, woman and song — "but I think he should forget about the last two.” Pat Vincent was held in high regard in American rugby circles. He did much to boost the game along the Pacific seaboard, and later played a notable part in the formation of the . United States Rugby Union. He was also a keen golfer, and on one memorable evening at the Russley club he had fellow players in fits of laughter as he described the difficulties associated with putting around cowpats on the course at his native Whataroa, in South Westland. He never married, and it is distressing that this man who brought sunshine into so many lives should be the third member of his family to die in as many years.