TRUMPER AND SUCC
Last Wednesday at Trumper Oval in Paddington, a small group of devotees gathered to mark the birthday of Victor Trumper who was born on 2 November 1877, 145 years ago.
Trumper played Grade Cricket on the ground which has been named after him since 1931. He also played at Chatswood Oval where the Trumper Pavilion has been named after him since 1924. And he played for Australia and NSW at the SCG where the grandstand which has replaced the old ‘Hill’ has been named, since 2008, in Victor Trumper’s memory.
What’s his connection with SUCC?
Apart from sharing a birthdate with SUCC stalwart, Hartley Anderson, Trumper’s legacy lived on in the person of Eric McElhone who played with him for NSW and against him for University in the early 20th century. Mr McElhone, even into his nineties, was still celebrating Trumper’s peerless life as one we should aspire to and was writing insistently that Vic was “the most beautiful batsman.”
The clock on the Grandstand at No1 Oval is called “Victor” as it replicates the famous photo of Trumper leaping out to drive.
But, did you know that Trumper played for our Club?
Well, not quite.
But Charles Robert Trumper (1924-1986), son of Victor’s youngest brother, Charles Ernest Love Trumper, and a nephew of Victor, played one season for SUCC in 1946-47.
He had played for Gordon CC from 1940 to 1943 without a great deal of success but he did play 1st Grade in 1942-43 (99 runs @11. two wickets @43)
In 1946-47, when he was studying Law at Sydney University, he played his only season for the Club, mainly in 2nd Grade (111 runs @8.7. 11 wickets @45.6). The 2nd Grade side, ably captained by Bob Norton, won only two games. Trumper’s best figures were his 2 for 23 against Petersham in round 8. His highest score in 15 innings was 28.
“Charlie Trumper never found his true form save for a fleeting glimpse in the last few games”, wrote Bob Norton.
Charlie discontinued his studies and returned to Gordon where he played until 1950 in 3rd and 4th Grades. Until he died in 1986, Charlie lived within easy walking distance of Chatswood Oval where his famous uncle, who had died nine years before Charlie was born, played out his last days before succumbing aged 37 to kidney disease, far too young.
Charlie’s uncle, Syd, another of Victor’s brothers, was Chairman of the Gordon General Committee. Two weeks after a monthly meeting in January 1956 he died suddenly.
He had a long playing career with Gordon beginning in 1909 and was on the Executive Committee of the NSWCA when he died.
Comparisons with the famous Victor were always going to cause his relations to live in his shadow.
Victor’s youngest son was Charlie’s cousin (also named Victor, 1913-1981). He played for Manly and represented NSW in seven games as a left arm opening bowler who took two wickets in his first over in Shield cricket against Queensland in 1940-41 but they were two of only 12 1st Class wickets that he took. His 10 innings produced 74 runs.
The burden of the surname became such that Victor’s grandson (Victor jnr’s son), played for Gordon during the 1960s under another surname, Turner.
James Rodgers
