Berkeley Gaskin — Devoted Administrator
Berkeley Gaskin, who died in Georgetown on May 2, 1979, at the age of 71, played for British Guiana for almost a quarter of a century between 1929 and 1953, but it was as a devoted administrator that he left his mark most firmly imprinted on the game he loved so dearly.
At the time of his death, Gaskin was President of the Guyana Cricket Association. During a distinguished career, he served many times as Guyana’s representative on the West Indies Board, as a West Indies selector, and managed three West Indies teams abroad — to India and Pakistan in 1958-59, to England in 1963, and to Australia and New Zealand in 1968-69.
Born March 21, 1908, Gaskin was an outstanding athlete in his youth. He was only 21 when he made his first-class appearance for British Guiana in 1929 against Barbados at Bourda, a match which lasted seven days before the home team won by 391 runs, having scored 610 in their first innings. It was some time before he gained a regular place, and he did not come to the notice of the West Indies selectors until late in life, when his medium-paced swing bowling brought him rewards in inter-territorial matches in the mid-1940s.
When Test cricket was resumed in the West Indies with the visit of “Gubby” Allen’s team in 1948, Berkeley Gaskin received his first Test cap, somewhat belatedly in his 40th year. He took only two wickets in the first two Tests and was then dropped, rather ironically, for the third Test at his native Bourda.
He continued playing for British Guiana until the Indian tour of 1953 and, on hanging up his boots, he became active in the administration and advancement of cricket in his territory and the region as a whole. His work on the Guyana Board coincided with his advice and encouragement to young players.
Gaskin’s first tour as team manager of the West Indies was exciting and, at the same time, difficult. In the squad, under the captaincy of F.C.M. Alexander, were several young players on the threshold of prominent careers — Sobers, Kanhai, Hall, Hunte, Butcher, Lance Gibbs, Solomon, and Hendricks. The West Indies convincingly won the series in India 3-0, mainly on the consistency of their batting and the fast bowling of Hall and Roy Gilchrist. Before the Pakistan part of the tour, he sent Gilchrist home for disciplinary reasons. In 1963, in England, with Frank Worrell as captain, Berkeley Gaskin was again manager and watched as his young charges of four years earlier, now matured into a powerful, well-knit team, defeated England 3-1.
Unfortunately, his final tour as manager, that to Australia in 1968-69, was a most disappointing one. Now those whom he had first cared for in India and Pakistan were 10 years older and nearing the ends of their careers. As they failed to measure up to expectations, a young Australian team, eager to prove itself, won the series 3-1. Apart from his work in the cause of cricket, Gaskin served as a senior officer in the civil service for many years.
Owen Davies
OWEN DAVIES, one of the most respected figures in Jamaican cricket, was murdered by gunmen while sitting in his home in St. Mary, Jamaica, on September 13, 1978. He was born in Wales but had lived in Jamaica for 30 years. During that time, he became a driving force in promoting the interests of cricket and cricket umpiring in rural areas. He himself achieved excellence as an umpire and officiated in Test matches with either Perry Burke or Douglas Sang Hue. Alan Rae, president of the Jamaica Cricket Board, in paying tribute to Owen Davies, said: “There was no task in cricket which was too humble for Owen to perform and none too difficult for him to tackle. He was an unselfish worker for sport in our island.” For several years, Mr Davies was a member of the JCBC. During the 1939-45 war, he gave distinguished service in the Royal Air Force.
Q. H. Gilbey
QUINTIN HOLLAND GILBEY, known throughout the sporting world as “Quinney”, who died on March 19, aged 79, was a racing correspondent of the front rank with an abiding passion for cricket. He wrote on racing at one time or another, with great knowledge and ready wit, for The Morning Post, Sunday Dispatch, Evening Standard, Empire News, News of the World, Tatler, Bystander, and Sporting Chronicle. After his retirement, he had a big success with an autobiography entitled “Fun was my Living“. His great ambition was to see an MCC tour to Australia, when he flew out to join the 1970-71 side, the sight in one eye deteriorated so quickly that he could see little of the play, and he returned home in disappointment. His consolations thereafter were sport on the wireless and TV.
E. W. SWANTON
R. P. F. Holloway
REGINALD FREDERICK PRICE HOLLOWAY, who died at his home in Bristol on February 12, was for many years a stalwart of Gloucestershire county cricket. He played a few times for the county in the 1920s and served on the management committee after the Second World War. He was a selector for some time and vice-chairman during the county’s centenary season in 1971. He was elected president of the county club in 1974.
He captained the Bohemians Cricket Club for ten years in the 1930s and was a member of MCC for 45 years, playing for them on several occasions. Mr Holloway was also an international bridge player who played for England in the Camrose Trophy match against Northern Ireland in 1953. He was educated at Clifton College and Hertford College, Oxford, and practised as a solicitor in Bristol for 41 years until retiring in 1971.
A. E. Perry
ARTHUR EDWARD PERRY, OBE, who died in Hong Kong on April 30, was born in Reading in 1904. He was an all-round sportsman, but his main game was cricket. He played in the Colony, both before and after World War II — first for KCC and the Civil Service, and later for various HKCC teams. He became Controller of Stores in the government and was general manager of the Kowloon-Canton railway. He retired to England in 1959 but, after his wife died in 1961, he returned to Hong Kong and devoted much time to church and charitable work. He died, as he would have wished, sitting in the reading room of the Hong Kong club, scrutinising the sports columns of the UK newspapers after lunching with several old friends. He served for three years with the Iraqi Railways before coming to Hong Kong in 1932.
E. H. WILSON
R. G. Williams, MBE
ROBERT GRAHAM WILLIAMS, who died in Adelaide on August 31, 1978, aged 67, was the Australian services XI fast-medium opening bowler who dismissed Len Hutton for one and Wally Hammond, 29, in the first Victory Test at Lord’s in 1945. Although still bearing evidence of four and a half years as a prisoner of war, he illustrated all-around talents in the same match by scoring 53. Graham was captured a day after his aircraft was shot down at Tobruk, North Africa, in early 1941. His services in teaching more than 30 blind or partially blind prisoners touch-typing were recognised by the award of the MBE. He was from East Torrens and took 53 wickets for South Australia. Before his retirement, he had been chief wool valuer for a pastoral company.