CRICKET SOUVENIR
W. G. GRACE’S BAT OWNED IN CHRISTCHURCH ' A souvenir which would be the pride of any cricket enthusiast, a bat which was last used by the famous Dr W. G. Grace, is in the possession of a Christchurch resident, He is Mr P. Geary, and he was given it by his wife’s father in England during the war of 1914-1918 The bat was last used, by Dr Grace, In a chanty match at Twickenham in September. 1906, and it bears about 45 names, which read like an index to “ Wisden's.”
The match was played on Twickenham Green to help raise funds for a new hospital at Twickenham, and the autographs on the bat, which was raffled at the match, were collected by Tom Richardson, the famous Surrey, Somerset, and England fast bowler, and Mr J. T. Reid, at the Kenmngton Oval. Mrs Geary’s father, Mr Edward Little,.a very keen cricket enthusiast, had the good fortune to win the raffle, and when Mr Geary went to England with New Zealand troops during the War he was given the bat. Dr Grace scored about 1400 runs with the bat, which has not been used since the match in 1906. He gave the bat to Mr W. Struttcavell, to aid the hospital building fund, and £73 was raised by the raffle. Among the names on the back of the bat are many of the outstanding players of the day. They include Dr Grace, S. M. J. Woods, E. H. D. Sewell, K. L. Hutchings, R. H. Spooner, P. F. Warner, F L Fane, J B. Hobbs, F. E. Huish, C. Blythe, F. E. Woolley, A. Fielder, Tom Hayward, G. L. Jessop, Alec Hearne, H. D. G. LevensonGower, Tom Richardson, David Denton, Len Braund. L. C. H. Palairet, John Tunnicliffe, Lord Harris, W. L. Murdoch, and Schofield Haigh. Mrs Geary said that the Twickenham Green on which the game was played should not be confused with the Twickenham ground on which international Rugby matches are played. The two grounds are a considerable distance apart. She said that she had had a number of offers from cricket enthusiasts eager to buy the bat. one of whom had stated that he would give £2OO fdr it, but Mrs Geary does not intend to sell it. It would certainly be a valuable addition to even the most extensive cricket collection
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19460812.2.88
Bibliographic details
Otago Daily Times, Issue 26228, 12 August 1946, Page 9
Word Count
395CRICKET SOUVENIR Otago Daily Times, Issue 26228, 12 August 1946, Page 9
Using This Item
Allied Press Ltd is the copyright owner for the Otago Daily Times. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons New Zealand BY-NC-SA licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Allied Press Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Log in