VUWCC OBITUARIES 2005/06

Greg Aim

Greg was a forthright attacking batsman who drove with great power  — there were few players in Wellington cricket who dispatched the loose delivery more effectively. Greg was also a useful bowler, who with his gentle medium pacers took all ten wickets in an innings playing for London New Zealand in England.

Greg played his early cricket in Dunedin and represented Otago in 1955/56. After serving with Shell in the Netherlands (whom he represented at cricket), Greg joined the University Club in the 1959/60 season and over the next decade was a mainstay of the senior side. He was a member of the teams that won the championship in 1960/61 and 66/67. Greg  played five games for Wellington.

Within the club, Greg played was a long-time committee member and club captain in 1963/64. He was an NZU selector and in 1989 succeeded R.S.V Simpson as Patron. He served on the committee of the Wellington Cricket Association for many years and in 1999 was instrumental in facilitating the merger of the Wellington and Hutt Valley Associations. After a distinguished career with Shell, Greg was the first chief executive of the Hillary Commission  (that preceded SPARC).

Ian Colquhoun

Ian Colqhoun, New Zealand wicketkeeper in 1955, is generally associated with Central Districts cricket for which he was a notable player and administrator. An Old Boy of Rongotai College, he first played senior cricket for University during the war years and was a member of the first University side to win the senior championship in 1945/46. (While playing for University, Ian also represented Wellington at rugby in 1946.) From 1948 Ian taught at Palmerston North Boys High School and coached many players who later turned out for University. He retained his interest in University cricket and in 2004 attended a reunion of players from the 40s and 50s.

John Park

John (‘Wilbur’) Park was an accurate off-spinner with the capacity to turn the ball sharply on most wickets and a more than useful batsman. He was also a fine rugby player for University in Christchurch and Wellington and represented Canterbury B.

John played first for University in 1959/60 and was a key figure in the side that won the senior championship the following year. In 1961/62 he received the Norwood award for most improved bowler. He represented New Zealand Universities, Wellington B and later the Bay of Plenty. He taught at Whakatane High School for 37 years. ‘Wilbur’ was an accomplished raconteur and a ‘character’ in every team for which he played.

R.S.V. (Dick) Simpson

Dick Simpson played for the senior side during the thirties and was, along with other legal luminaries such as H.R.C. Wild (later Chief Justice) and Colin Aikman (Dean of Law) a member of the Presidents Grade team in the fifties. He was patron of the Club for many years until 1989.

A senior partner in Bell Gully, Dick Simpson was for a number of years Chancellor of Victoria University of Wellington.