SIR “FRED” TOONE

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7294, 2 August 1930, Page 15

SIR “FRED” TOONE

YORKSHIRE LOSES ITS CRICKET STALWART CAN HE BE REPLACED? The death of “Fred” Toone, as he was known to his firends, has deprived cricket of a man who could ill be spared, it had been known for some time that his health was not satisfactory, but news of his passing nevertheless came as a great shock. In Yorkshire especially his loss will be felt most severely, and it is difficult to see how he can possibly be replaced, says the “Athletic News.” As an organiser ho has never been surpassed, and he possessed an infinite amount of tact. These two qualities proved most useful in carrying out liis duties, whether as secretary or manager, to a successful issue, and, as lie was a man who never sought publicity, only those who were “behind the scenes” can have any idea of the value of his services to cricket. It was my good fortune to know him for well over 30 years, and from personal knowledge I can say that he was always ready to do anything possible for a friend. Sir Frederick was an extraordinarily able man, and everything to which he set his hand seemed to prosper. He was methodical and painstaking and had a splendid head for figures.. Any work he attempted he liked to proceed without a hitch like a welloiled . machine, and it invariably

did. No task seemed too big for him to tackle, or any detail too small to warrant his attention. GENIUS FOR BENEFITS For organising benefits he was a positive genius, as manager of teams overseas he has never been equalled while the Yorkshire Year Book, which he edited, was a model compilation of its kind. That the honour of knighthood occasioned him much quiet personal satis - faction goes without saying. It was, 1 believe, Sidney Smith, of Australia, who was the first to suggest that the bestowal of such a title would be only a fitting recognition of all the good work he had done i»i the best interests of Anglo-Australian cricket. His popularity in Yorkshire, too, was emphasised when a testimonial, organised in appreciation of his 25 years’ service to the game in the county and elsewhere, produced £3,500;