Obituaries in 1962

GASSON, E. A., who died at Christchurch, New Zealand, in March, aged 74 was a former Canterbury selector for Plunket Shield matches.

GWYNN, THE REV. ROBERT MALCOLM, of Trinity College, Dublin, who died in Dublin on June 10, aged 85, was a member of a well-known Irish cricketing family. He played for Gentlemen of Ireland and the Phoenix C.C. and once in a match at College Park, Dublin, enjoyed the distinction of bowling Dr. W. G. Grace first ball.

MURRAY, WILLIAM, who died in Perth on May 29, aged 74, was for 26 years treasurer of the Perth County C.C.

PLAYER, ALLEN SHREWSBURY, who died on November 17, aged 69, played for Auckland in 27 first-class matches between 1919 and 1929. A bowler of medium pace, he took 89 wickets, average 26.83, his best analysis being six wickets for 38 runs against Canterbury at Christchurch in 1926-27.

PORCH, ROBERT BAGEHOT, who died on October 29, aged 87, was probably the last survivor of those who took part in the historic match at Taunton in 1895 when A. C. MacLaren played his innings of 424 for Lancashire against Somerset. This was then easily the highest individual score in first-class cricket, the previous best being 344 by W. G. Grace for M.C.C. against Kent at Canterbury in 1876, and MacLaren' s record stood till W. H. Ponsford hit 429 for Victoria against Tasmania at Melbourne in the Australian season of 1922-23. A useful batsman who drove well, Judy Porch was in the Malvern XI in 1893 and 1894, heading the averages in the second year. He went up to Oxford without gaining a Blue and played occasionally as an amateur for Somerset from 1895 to 1910, his appearances being limited by his duties as a master at Malvern. In all, he scored 659 runs, average 15.32, his highest innings being 85 not out against Essex at Taunton in 1895. As a great believer in the importance of fielding, his maxim was: Save six fours when the other side is batting, and you have 24 to your name before you get off the mark, though it's not in the score-book. He was President of the Malvernian Society.

RUDSTON, HORACE, who died in April, aged 82, played as a professional for Yorkshire from 1902 to 1907. Of the 609 runs he scored for the county, average 20.30, he obtained 269 in 1904 when he put together innings of 164 and 69 in the match with Leicestershire at Leicester. He took part in an eventful game at Bristol in 1906. Set to get 234 to beat Gloucestershire, Yorkshire lost half the side for 119, but Rudston and E. Smith put on 66 and looked to have brought victory within range when Rudston, square cutting G. Jessop, had the misfortune to hit his wicket. That cost Yorkshire the match--and the Championship--by one run.