Wes Hall and the Holden
Lyall Gardner | May 29, 2023
Randwick Petersham Cricket Legend’s member, Mark Preddey, earlier this year toured West Indies with an Australian over 60s team. He did well on the tour with both bat and ball, but his biggest thrill was meeting up with another Randwick Petersham Cricket Legend–the famous West Indian fast bowler, Sir Wesley Hall. Wes played for Randwick in 1965-66 and was guest speaker at that club’s Centenary Dinner in 2000 at Randwick Racecourse. He was signing copies of a book on his life at Kensington Oval, Barbados, when Mark got into line to buy an autographed copy. Wes was delighted to have a chat to Mark, particularly when he learnt he is an old Randwick leg-spinner. Mark says Wes was quite reminiscent about his time with Randwick and sends his best regards to one and all. What a moment!!
Wes Hall and the Holden
The legendary West Indian fast bowler, Wes Hall, now Sir Wesley Hall, played for the old Randwick cricket club in the 1965-66 season. It was the first time an international cricketing superstar had played in Sydney Grade Cricket. Needless to say, Wes was a real hit, taking 56 wickets, getting Randwick into the semi-finals and bringing flocks of people to view the action at Coogee Oval each Saturday. Wes subsequently returned to Randwick in 2000 as guest speaker at the club’s Centenary Dinner at Randwick Racecourse.
Earlier this year, former Randwick leg-spinner, Mark Preddey, toured West Indies with an Australian over 60s team. During the tour, he met up with Sir Wesley at Kensington Oval, Barbados, where he was signing copies of a book on his life. Mark was quickly in line to get a copy and had a wonderful chat with the great man who was delighted to learn he was an old Randwick player.
The book is called Answering the Call: The extraordinary life of Sir Wesley Hall by Paul Akeroyd. It contains many of Wes’ wonderful memories on the cricket field and off it. There is also mention of Wes’ great interest in horse racing which will resonate with many from Randwick who attended racecourses with him during that 1965-66 summer. Akeroyd has described one of Wes’ racecourse sojourns so well, I felt it should be shared.
The occasion was during the 1961-62 cricket season. Wes Hall was playing a season of Sheffield Shield cricket with Queensland. His great friend, Sir Garfield Sobers, was doing the same with South Australia. Wes was brought to Queensland by the giant oil company, Esso. Akeroyd writes as follows.
While in Australia, Wes indulged his love of horses and horse racing, and he became a familiar figure with the bookmakers and at racetracks. On one occasion when Sobers was in Brisbane for South Australia’s fixture against Queensland, the two of them went to the races with a couple of friends. Esso used to upgrade Wes’ company car regularly and he drove to the track in his latest model, a green Holden which they left in the car park. Wes used to pride himself on his knowledge of the runners and racing form, and he jokingly boasted of his expertise. It was good-natured fun but annoying to the others when he backed the first three winners and announced that he would prove his self-discipline by walking away and going home. ‘I have no further hunches, the odds are now against me, so I will leave you amateurs to it.’
Sobers left with him and, when they reached the car park, Wes suddenly became aware that 50% of cars on the road in Australia were Holdens – ‘and a lot of them were green!’ The attendant at the entrance had spotted them leaving early, and he watched with interest as the two men moved from car to car trying the locks. The man was becoming increasingly suspicious, and Wes thought it was just a matter of time before he called the police. He therefore decided not to try to open any more cars. That was at 3.30 pm. The last race was at 5 pm, and by 6 o’clock there were just two cars left in the car park – both green Holdens! Wes waited with his friends for the owner of the other one to leave: ‘To the puzzlement of the car park attendant, I opened my car with the key, and we were gone before he could ask any questions!’
