Nor'West News: October 21, 2021

Thursday October 21 2021 9
‘His dedication has created a legacy’
JOHN “THOMMO” Thompson
was a driving force at the
Burnside West Christchurch
University Cricket Club.
Club secretary Gareth Gibson
said the Merivale man, who
died last week aged 85, had filled
many roles at the club, from
president to groundsman.
“He spent countless hours over
the years on pitch preparation
for Saturday games on Burnside
Park, but also on preparing
pitches for junior cricket,”
Gibson said.
“His dedication has created a
legacy at Burnside Oval, which
continues to be recognised as
one of the finest club cricket
grounds in New Zealand.”
Joining the club in 1958,
Thommo was made a life member
in 1992 and served as club
president from 1983-1985 and
again from 2008.
He was also a keen player in
the club’s second-grade team
through the 1960s.
“He was a medium pace
bowler and an aggressive lowerorder
left-hand batsman,” said
Gibson.
“Later, for over 20 years, he
was a regular member of the
Burnside presidents’ team where,
in spite of the good-natured camaraderie
of the grade, he never
lost his competitive instincts.”
Gibson said: “Rather than a
vocal comment at a beaten batsman,
he developed a very good
stare and pose which clearly
indicated to the batsman that
he had very little time left at the
crease.”
Thommo also acted as the
club’s delegate to the Canterbury
Cricket Association, which made
him a life member of the association
in 2001.
He was also an underage selector
for Canterbury teams from
1983 until 1996.
A dedicated and no-nonsense
approach also made Thommo
the automatic choice to manage
the Canterbury Shell Cup and
Trophy team for five years beginning
with the 1996/97 season,
Gibson said.
PITCH PERFECT:
John “Thommo”
Thompson filled
many roles at the
Burnside West
Christchurch
University Cricket
Club over the years,
from president to
groundsman. ​
“On and off the park,
Thommo’s service to the cricket
was immeasurable. He was the
true embodiment of a good
club man, and he will be missed
dearly by us all.”
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