Lives in Cricket No 20 - Maurice Tompkin

His death made front-page news in both Leicester’s evening newspapers on Friday, 28 September. It happened at 8 pm the evening before, with his beloved Sheila by his side. He was by this time under the care of Donald McGavin, a New Zealander who was a senior surgeon based at the Royal Infirmary, just a few hundred yards from the Fielding Johnson. Because of his background and knowledge of cancer, it is possible that McGavin performed the laparotomy. Even at this distance it still seems incredible that his demise should have been so swift, little more than three weeks after his last first-class cricket match. All summer a physiotherapist had been dealing with his back problems, though Christopher Tompkin remembers his father enjoying a glass of milk as his evening drink, an indication perhaps that he wanted the most soothing of drinks to settle his stomach. The tributes came thick and fast. Les Berry, Leicestershire’s most prolific batsman, commented: ‘A grand fellow and a grand sportsman – the best team man you could ever have.’ Charles Palmer said: ‘I can honestly say that I have never met a finer, more unselfish man and one who was so universally liked and respected,’ and Neville Dowen, the new club chairman, ‘Maurice was the salt of the earth. A great club man and one of the nicest fellows you could ever have in a cricket side. A great thing in his character was his delight in giving help to the youngsters. He was ever ready with a cheery word on cricket. He is irreplaceable.’ The whole local community felt this deeply. His sister-in-law remembers everyone talking about the sad news as she went to work on the bus on the following day. Others who remembered him recall hearing the news of his death as a ‘great shock’, and many remember what they were doing when they heard it. ‘I was training at Bristol City football ground,’ when I heard recalls Rodney Pratt. The doyen of the Leicestershire scorebox, Dave Goodacre, recalls that he was at Wyggeston Grammar School, along with Vic Jackson’s son. The rumour spread that Maurice was dead, and eventually Jackson’s son was despatched to ring his dad, and the awful news was confirmed. The Leicester Evening News leader writer wrote this tribute: The death of Maurice Tompkin is a grievous shock not only to those who had the good fortune to count him as a friend, but to the thousands who have been charmed by his cricket and appreciated his true sportsmanship. The passing of this handsome friendly fellow is not merely a blow to Leicestershire cricket. His name was synonymous with fair play and all that is best on the sporting field. The youngsters who idolised him have a true example to treasure and follow. As was common in those days, the arrangements for his funeral were swift, and the service was set for just four days later, at 11.30 am on Tuesday, 2 October. The pallbearers were all current county cricketers, Gerry Lester, Vic Jackson, Vic Munden and Jack Firth. The congregation included Donald Carr and Geoffrey Howard from the MCC team that had toured Pakistan; 118 Final days