Keith Derek Cockburn 7/12/36 – 6/5/2024 – Burnside West Christchurch University Cricket Club

Derek began his long association with the club after leaving St Andrews College in 1954 where he joined the West Christchurch Cricket Club which was based at Hagley Park at that time. Derek played cricket continually for the club for over 30 years, usually in 5th grade as a spin bowler and left handed batter. Derek’s key interest in the club was the development of school boy cricket and was a regular on Saturday mornings at Ilam fields and Burnside park sorting out gear and encouraging good sportsmanship.

Derek Cockburn began his association with schoolboy cricket in the 1959-60 season by looking after teams from South Brighton and Spreydon schools

His connection with Canterbury Cricket and Christchurch Junior Cricket Association started in 1969 Derek was the executive of the Canterbury Cricket Junior Advisory Board (JAB) and then served as President of the Christchurch Junior Cricket Association for 4 Years from 1975.

Burnside – West Christchurch University Cricket Club , First Committee 1972

The 1972-73 season Derek was part of the first combined committee and his role then was to look after school boy cricket, which was a challenge to say the least with 300 school boys and the requirement for more wickets. In this season Derek took 62 wickets at 10. In 1975 Derek was part of the clubs overseas tour to Australia dubbed the “runs in the sun” where he took a 5 wicket bag and finished the tour with 21 wickets.

The South Island Primary Schools Tournament was attended by Derek continuously from 1963 to his last in 2020 in Westport. Derek wrote and published a book about the South Island Primary School Tournament.

Some of Derek’s SIPS tournament highlights include:

The look of delight on Sir Richard Hadlee’s face after taking bags of 5/5, 5/14, and 5/27 at Ashburton 1965
Justin Boyle who captured ten wickets in Ashburton’s second innings at Oamaru 1972
Bryce Nicholson’s match-winning knock of 109 not out against Otago in 1974
Jonathan Guernsey’s 31 wickets @ 6.32 at Blenheim 1979

In 1984 Derek was elected life member of the club for his tireless work in developing school boy cricket. Over the years Derek was awarded the WS MacGibbon Trophy for ‘Best All round Club Member’ in 1963-64 and 1973-74, the WS McKibbon Trophy for Best club bowler in 1972-73. As a Jeweller Derek was very generous with his time engraving trophies and awards for the club from his store on Clyde Road.

He was made life member of the Christchurch Junior Cricket Association in 1991, the same year he was awarded honorary member of Canterbury Cricket. Derek became the Patron of the CJCA in 2010.

Derek was recognised by New Zealand Cricket by being presented the Sir Jack Newman trophy for services to NZ Cricket in 2007. Further recognition came by receiving the ICC centenary medal for volunteering in 2009