Vale Brian Booth

St George Cricket Club | May 20, 2023

A deep pall of sadness has been cast across St George DCC with the news that our Patron, Brian Booth MBE, has passed away. We extend our sincere sympathy to his wife Judy, four daughters and their families.

Many stories have been written about our Club enticing Don Bradman with the offer to cover the price of his train ticket from Bowral. An appropriate comparison is Brian Booth moving from Perthville to Bexley in 1952 and being advised by his landlady to walk around the corner and knock on the door of Warren Saunders, to ask where he could play cricket. What a fortuitous walk that was, starting a friendship that lasted over 70 years and provided St George with one of our greatest players, commencing with a premiership in that first season of 1952/53.

Brian’s enormous talent saw him represent Australia on 29 occasions, including twice as Captain, scoring 1773 runs @ 42.21 including 5 centuries. (He also played Hockey for Australia at the 1956 Olympics). He represented NSW in the Sheffield Shield on 93 occasions, also captaining the State as he scored 5577 runs @ 43.57, with recognition in the Hall of Fame (2014) and Life Membership (1974). His career for St George included 10674 runs @ 45.4 and 23 centuries, the Club record. His 110 wickets were captured at 24.9 and included a hattrick against Nth Sydney in 1961/62. He was chosen in the Club’s Team of the Century in 2010 as well as the Hall of Fame. Life Membership was awarded in 1970. Brian was elected a Life Member of the MCC and in 1982 received an MBE from the Queen.

While Brian’s playing record, particularly for St George, is outstanding, his contribution off the field in the nearly 50 years since his playing retirement has been remarkable. After service on the Management Committee Brian, while still playing, took on the responsibility of Club President in 1972. Ten years in this office then became 40 years as Club Patron, including devoting his energy throughout the 1990s to the role of AW Green Shield Coach, giving freely of his knowledge to a generation of young cricketers. A very hands on and passionate Patron who would be seen every week at Hurstville Oval or Harold Fraser in quiet conversation with a player who’d sought his advice, that was always considered and measured. Even this season with his ailing health he was still seen on the balconies of both grounds supporting the players and the Club he loved.

Perhaps the most important thing that can be said about Brian Booth was that everyone who met him, liked him, basically because he was always respectful, courteous, and interested in the person with whom he was conversing. On this sad day we console ourselves with the knowledge that we had the privilege of knowing this wonderful man and we celebrate his life of service.