One of our true cricket greats, all rounder John Reid, has died at 92, thus for once the old cliché that he had a 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 has 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.