"JUMBO” M’LEAN.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20290, 27 April 1934, Page 11

"JUMBO” M’LEAN.

Tribute to a Model Sportsman. (Written for the “Star.”) ‘‘Jumbo” M’Lean: A kindly soul gone, to final rest, accompanied by genuine feelings of deep regret from a very extensive circle of friends and acquaintances in many walks of life. tt Local sports circles have known two Jumbos,” and they were contemporaries in their respective sports activities in the early and middle ’eighties "Jumbo” Barnes, standing well over 6ft and built in proportion, famous on the cricket field, and “ Jumbo ” M’Lean, some inches shorter, massively built, fleet of foot, powerful fending wing three-quarter. There was a great similarity in temperament, both being even-tempered, cheerful in company and apparently fficapable of any heated feeling. For myself I can say I never saw either show any real signs of anger, and 1 was associated very considerably with them, on and off th<j field, in business and in spoft. Faults thev had, naturally. Who has not them? Has not the Immortal Bard said:— ' Th ya?n eb ° f ° Ur ,ife is of mingled Good ancl ill together.” Jumbo M Lean was not a great footballer, but he was a long way above the average, and, being spectacular, he had a host of admirers. Possessing a magnificent physique that might well have been taken as a model for a gladiator in combat in the arena of ancient Rome, he was also equipped with unusual activity for one so heavily built and had a fine turn of speed. At wing three-quarter in the days of his. prime, his speed, weight and devastating fend made him a holy terror for a L timid cr inexpert tacklers when that two hundred odd pounds of hard, solid flesh and massive bone went tearing down the touchline, straight as a die for the goal line. But whether he dealt out tumbles or was himself toppled over, there was no spirit of exultation at the opponent’s discomfiture, nor of feeling against those who brought him down. And be it remarked that, generally he got a rare shaking-up when he came over, especially on a hard ground. He was too good a sportsman, too genial a fellow to even entertain any ill-will towards an opponent. And it was this sportsmanship, inherent in him, that gained lor him the goodwill of beth plavers and spectators. The Social Side. Off the field his bearing was in keeping with the high spirit of manliness he showed on it. He was a good mixer, and one of his great enjoyments in the evening of a match was to join up with members of other dubs and seek that common gathering place, in the old Clarendon Hotel there to while the hours away in son"! •story and discussion. Those ’ Saturday night gatherings were quite a feature of local lootball life of those far-off days There was never‘a scarcity of vocal talent, two conspicuous contributors to an evening of harmony being Jumbo and the late Charlie Read, . the Merivale Club, both possessors of pleasing tenor voices, and both specialising in selections from popular operas. .. J n wa^ s other than sport. Jumbo was equally appreciated and respected, lie was a happy, genial, generous, modest soul, who, being entirely free from malice himself, could see no real evil in others. Not only had nature endowed him with wonderful physical powers, but she had bestowed upon him that inestimable boon of a strong sense of humour and a calm serenity which seemed incapable of ever being unduly disturbed, no matter how hectic the immediate surroundings might be. He was a man who saw a deal that was enjoyable in life, and he enjoyed himself to the full. Ife saw much that was beautiful in nature and appreciated what he saw with a sense cf artistic feeling. Ancl now he has gone, another of the old brigade, leaving behind him a record of manliness, humaneness, a sympathetic understanding of, and a kindly feeling for, his fellow men. W.G.A.