From the Archives – SPC welcomes renowned English cricketers

A visit to St Patrick’s College in 1947 welcomed English Cricketers Denis Compton CBE, who played 78 Test matches and was a footballer at Arsenal. In his cricket career, he scored 5,807 runs with a batting average of 50.06 with a bowling style described as Slow-left arm chinamen.

Sir Alec Bedser CBE.  Alec Bedser, England’s best fast-medium bowler, who played 51 Test matches, took 236 Test wickets at 24.89 runs each in total at 20.41.

The Patrick’s College Archivist, Halina Sztynda, discovered the photographs in a small collection donated by Br Frank Monaghan to our Archives.

 

St Patrick’s College Publication the Chronicle June 1947

VISIT OF ENGLISH CRICKETERS

During the short visit of the M.C.C. cricketers to Ballarat early in February, the College had the honour of welcoming two of its members – Denis Compton and Alec Bedser.

They arrived at 11 a.m., accompanied by Mr. L. Woodford, an old boy of the College. For the first few minutes they were unofficial guests of several members of the Camera Club, all armed to the teeth with sinister looking boxes of various shapes.

In the College hall they were introduced to the boys by Rev. Br. Healy, who pointed out that the school was indeed honoured by the  visit of two of England’s greatest cricketers, and thanked them for making time to visit St. Patrick’s.

Both Mr. Compton and Mr. Bedser spoke a few words to the boys, who showed their appreciation by a rendition of the College War-Cry that was heard in Melbourne.