OBITUARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23690, 23 December 1938, Page 7

OBITUARY

MR R. W. CHERRY The news of the death yesterday of Mr R. W. Cherry came as a shock to those with whom he had been associated in commercial and sporting circles. A former Otago representative cricketer and Association footballer, Mr Cherry, who was only 37 years of age. was one of the most popular and widely-known commercial travellers “ on the road ” in Otago, and was actively connected with the Commercial Travellers and Warehousemen's Association as a member of its executive. His death followed a very short illness, and only on Saturday he was playing as a member of the Kaikorai Cricket Club’s senior team, for which he made top score.

He came to Dunedin from England with his parents in 1914 and showed exceptional promise in sport as a schoolboy at North-East Valley and later at the Technical College. He first played senior cricket as a member of the Dunedin Club, and in the 1919-20 season was chosen to represent Otago against Southland. Until the 1931-32 season he was frequently a member of Otago elevens. A sound and consistent batsman, he performed well in most of the games in which he took part, and his outstanding achievement was a century against Canterbury in the 1925-26 season. Canterbury had made a huge score of •495, and Otago was facing a humiliating defeat after being dismissed in its first innings for 191 and losing nine wickets for 171 in the second. R. C. Torrance then joined his clubmate, Cherry, and the pair brought the match to an exhilarating conclusion by adding 105 runs in an hour. Cherry was undefeated with 123, and for some years his performance with Torrance stood as a last-wicket record for Plunket Shield cricket. Later Mr Cherry went to Invercargill, where he also played cricket, and on his return to Dunedin he joined the Kaikorai Club, for which he made many good scores, and, though he lacked natural ability as a bowler, his shrewd knowledge of the game enabled him to take a surprisingly large number of wickets. Mr Cherry achieved even greater success as an Association footballer. He was several times a schoolboy representative. Joining the Northern Club, he proved himself an extremely versatile player, and in several positions in the field was one of the foremost players in Otago over a period of 12 years. Besides acting as captain of the club’s senior eleven, he represented the province on a number of occasions, on some of which he was entrusted with the responsibility ot the leadership. When he discontinued playing he retained a close connection with the Northern Club as vice-presi-dent and a member of the committee, taking a prominent part in organising the diamond jubilee celebrations last y6 Mr Cherry, who was a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the M U.1.0.0.F.. combined sound common sense with a cheery disposition, and commanded the respect of a very wide circle of friends. He had been employed by Messrs Sargood, Son and Ewen, Ltd., since leaving school and as a travelling representative of _ this firm was well known among business people in the country. He is survived by his wife. MR A. MORRISON Mr Archibald Morrison, who died yesterday at Dunedin, at the age of 73, was a well-known figure in industrial and musical affairs in Dunedin for many years. He was educated at the Middle District School, now the Arthur Street School, and then joined the engineering and brass founding business of Messrs Anderson and Morrison, of which his father was a founder. This firm went out of business, and Mr Morrison later started on his own account, and for the past 40 years had occupied his workshops in Moray place Mr Morrison was keenly interested in music, and was a foundation member of the Dunedin Orchestral Society, in which he played the violin in his early association with the society and later the viola. He was also associated with the now defunct Philharmonic Society, and was a vice-president of the Tramways Band. Mr Morrison was also interested in athletic pastimes. He was a foundation member of the St. Ivilda Bowling Club, and at the time of his death was a member of the Dunedin Bowling Club. He was also a vicepresident of the Tramways Cricket Club. Mr Morrison had a long connection with First Church, attending the services practically all his life. He was of a retiring disposition, but was highly esteemed by those who had the privilege of his intimate acquaintance. Mr Morrison is survived by his wife and two daughters. MR R. McCUTCHEON The death of Mr Robert McCutcheon on Sunday last removed one who was widely known and respected throughout the Tuapeka district. Born at Omagh, County Tyrone, Ireland, 88 years ago, he arrived in Port Chalmers at the age of 25 in the sailing vessel Timaru, and later he journeyed to Lawrence, where he spent his years in several occupations. He was intimate with much of the early history of Lawrence.