John Reid Gone

One of our true cricket greats, all-rounder John Reid, has died at 92, thus for once the old cliché that he had good innings is true, both literally and chronologically.

My god, he was special, captaining New Zealand through a difficult time in our cricket history.

John was an affable fellow with a sunny outlook on life and always good company.

I haven’t seen him for half a dozen years now, the last time being when a commemoration was payed to him, marked by a fitting large monument in the Hutt Rec.

He came down for that and stayed with me and we had a few laughs.

Memorable was driving over to Wainuiomata to look at his first home after he’d married, Wainui being a popular location for young professional class newly weds back in the 1950-60 era.

We drove to the street and he became annoyed, insisting his house had been removed. It hadn’t, rather with the passing of over half a century both it and its neighbours now sat amidst lush vegetation plus of course with extensions, decks and such-like subsequently added.

John would make everyone’s perfect all-time NZ team selection, the only one I’d suggest from his era.