On this day, 1928, Wellington and Otago started an otherwise ordinary match at Basin Reserve (Wellington 363 and 413 beat Otago 269 and 344 by 163 runs).
But the match witnessed a world record, for it was the 81st birthday of William Bock, one of the umpires.
Eighty-first.
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But the match witnessed a world record, for it was the 81st birthday of William Bock, one of the umpires.
Eighty-first.
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He had stood in a match a day after his 80th birthday (already a world record), but here he improved on that.
His birthday was celebrated after the day's play.
Bock was 61 when he first stood umpire in a First-Class match, between Wellington and Hawke’s Bay.
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His birthday was celebrated after the day's play.
Bock was 61 when he first stood umpire in a First-Class match, between Wellington and Hawke’s Bay.
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He officiated in eight matches, all at Basin Reserve.
The highlight came in 1913-14, when Wellington played the touring Australians.
The visitors included Trumper, Armstrong, Noble, Mailey, Collins, and Ransford.
But there was more to Bock than impiring.
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The highlight came in 1913-14, when Wellington played the touring Australians.
The visitors included Trumper, Armstrong, Noble, Mailey, Collins, and Ransford.
But there was more to Bock than impiring.
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His grandparents, Thomas and Mary, had been deported to Hobart.
At 21, Bock went to New Zealand, took up employment with James Hughes, and later worked as Manager of Lithography and Printing Department at Lyon and Blair Printers in Wellington.
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At 21, Bock went to New Zealand, took up employment with James Hughes, and later worked as Manager of Lithography and Printing Department at Lyon and Blair Printers in Wellington.
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This Lyon and Blair were sold to Whitcombe & Tombs, who merged with Coulls Somerville Wilkie in 1971 to form Whitcoulls, one of the largest bookstores in New Zealand.
In 1878, Bock launched his own business as engraver and lithographic printer.
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In 1878, Bock launched his own business as engraver and lithographic printer.
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He "was responsible for the design and preparation of the dies for the first fiscal and postage stamps to be produced wholly within the colony." (Robin Gwynn)
But there was more. Bock also
- designed medals and certificates for New Zealand Industrial Exhibition
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But there was more. Bock also
- designed medals and certificates for New Zealand Industrial Exhibition
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- supervised the first full New Zealand book in chromolithography
- created medals for the 1901 royal visit
- engraved the New Zealand International Exhibition Set
- created jubilee addresses for Queen Victoria
- became Vice-President of Master Printers’ Association
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- created medals for the 1901 royal visit
- engraved the New Zealand International Exhibition Set
- created jubilee addresses for Queen Victoria
- became Vice-President of Master Printers’ Association
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Oh, and he was also a singer and stage performer, and even artillery volunteer.
And, as mentioned, he remains the oldest man to umpire in a First-Class match.
Note:
BR Nagaraja Rao is second on the list of oldest umpires.
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And, as mentioned, he remains the oldest man to umpire in a First-Class match.
Note:
BR Nagaraja Rao is second on the list of oldest umpires.
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He was ten days short of his 80th birthday when he stood in a Tamil Nadu vs Kerala match at Chepauk in 1993-94.
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