DR. R.G.B. SINCLAIR’S DEATH

Taranaki Daily News, 28 June 1932, Page 6

DR. R.G.B. SINCLAIR’S DEATH

POPULAR DOCTOR AND ATHLETE.

DISTINGUISHED RUGBY CAREER.

The death occurred at Wellington yesterday, after a long illness, of Dr. Robert Gemmell Burnett Sinclair of Hawera, at the age of 35, A sportsman and a gentleman, Dr. .Sinclair leaves behind him a fine record as a doctor, an. athlete and a man. v Dr. Sinclair received his early education at the Central School, New Plymouth. From. 1909 to 1915 he was a pupil at the New Plymouth High School, which he represented fqj thfee years at football and for two years at cricket. Even in those years he distinction by bis remarkable goal kicking from the half-way line. He was. also a sergeant ill the school cadet corps and was prominent in athletics.. On leaving school he commenced his medical studies at the Otago. University, but after two years joined with the New Zealand forces. He went to the front as a second lieutenant in the Taranaki Infantry Battalion. Following his demobilisation he .resumed his studies at Otago University In the post-war years he played for the ’Varsity A Rugby team, which at that time was practically invincible. During this period he was capped for Rugby for Otago, for New Zealand-Universities and for New Zealand, suceeding Kingston, another Taranaki full-back. He was regarded as certain of inclusion- in the famous 1924 team but for business reasons was unable to make the. trip. However, ho had already created an indelible reputation by his sterling performance hi the last test against the Springboks. In 1923 Dr. Sinclair took up the position of house surgeon at the Hawera hospital. After a short period he entered into partnership with Dr. W. F. Buist, later setting up in practice on his own account. For some years he was anaesthetist at the Hawera hospital. During his early years at Hawera he was a member of the Hawera. Club Rugby team and was a member of the fifteen that won the Taranaki championship. He was an enthusiastic member of the Hawera Golf Club, and in 1931 was president of the South Taranaki branch of the New Plymouth High School Old Boys’ Association. Dr. Sinclair’s chief sporting interest at Hawera, however, was his association with the Athletic Football Club, of which he was in turn a playing member, president, coach and life member. Dr. Sinclair leaves a widow, nee Miss Moira Reid, Dunedin, and two young children, a son and a daughter. His father, who was well known in North Taranaki, and his elder brother, are both dead, but his mother and sister are living near Dunedin.