TOM HALLAM.

NZ Truth, Issue 936, 3 November 1923, Page 9

TOM HALLAM.

( The resignation of Tom Hallam afl caretaker of the Masterton Memorial Park In order td accept the position of groundsman at Lancaster Park, Chrißtchurch, is a fievero blow to cricket In) Wairarapa. and to Maatorton m par-' tlcular. In addition to being the 1 premier batsman m the Walrarapa last season the old English pro. was a postmaster m, the art of preparing a wicket, ana the confidence ongendered by playing on perfect pitches was almost wholly responsible for the great improvement m batting shown by Masterton players during the past two seasons. Thoush Tom has no doubt ■•en more active days, he is yet fat from bslng a back number, as is evidenced by the faot that last season j he plaoed threa centurion to his credit —-one against tho Nomads' touring combination. He Is also a fine wicketkftoper and a particularly smart closein field. Tom hardly knows wh«n his orlcketing career started—h* reckons he must have beon bom with a bat In his hand. He had the good luck to be educatod In a school of whioh the headmaster was Mr. Tom Porroster, the woll-known Warwickshire ahd Dorbyshlro County man. Under this ablo tuition Tom did remarkably well. Ho waR playing junior cricket at the age of 12 and won tho butting average three years m succession, thus forcing his way Into tho senior competition — known as tho Derbyshire League. Ho was not, however, particularly successful for tho first two years. At tho ago of JO Tom's fat hor put him umlor tho tuition of Tom Selby (lots of Toms *In t-ngland apoarontly). pro. coach to Cambridge ciISS? This coach put Tom H»yward "Ranji," Ford, C. B. Fry, among others, through their paces. After Solbv had put tho nnltihlng touchew on Hallam tho latter hlmHolf turned p?o. "IX f amongst othor«, fuinilod onSoßementa with ¥™*?> SWnebrook sn<l Notta RnmblerK. nftmvard» finding v Pluco In iho 13orby»hlre County cloven. His first County match was ninUniit Hampshire. Tom « stay was a short ono. for after scoring four ofl the first ball ho was bowled the next. Ho wnn more successful In hla next match, however. Partnered by L 0. Wright, Tom was Bont m first, and. after a fine innings, was run out with th« score board recording 86 to hla credit; whllo his second effort producod 40. In Tom's opinion Derbyshire at that porlod possessed the two bent fait bowlont In England— Warren

and Bontwlck — and also the best wick-et-keeper— Billy Storer. When the war broke out Tom Hallam was not hnckward m answering his country's call, and,' in common with thousands of oth«r crlckotPrß, spent Homo of tho host years of 'hla life In doing hl« bit to keep Fritz at bny At the conclusion of tho wur Tom decided to try hl» fortune* further nllold, nml shortly after his arrival In Now Zealand went to Masterton nu caretaker of tho Memorial Park. Widespread regret was expressod amongst Wairarapa when tho news of his resignation was received and at the last meeting of the Cricket Association opportunity was taken to present Mr, and Mrs. Hallam with a slight token of the warm regard m which they wera hoftl locally.