Wellingtonians set to celebrate 125 years

Many famous names from Wellington cricket's past will be taking part in the 125th jubilee celebrations of New Zealand's cricket association this weekend.

The celebrations have been based around the staging of the Wellington-Pakistan international three-day match at the Basin Reserve and will include a jubilee dinner at Parliament's Grand Hall on Saturday night.

Activities have been taking place throughout the summer, including the naming of a Wellington Legends XI, several members of whom will be attending the jubilee.

The oldest player attending is 92-year-old Jumbo Symes, a former fast-medium opening bowler who worked in tandem with Denis Blundell during the early-1930s.

And it won't be only those actively involved as players, administrators or umpires who will be catered for. A members' lunch has been organised for Sunday which has the theme, "Memories of Don Bradman."

Among those attending the celebrations over the weekend will be: Greg Aim (1961), Graham Burnett (1987), Harold Chapman (1944), Richard Collinge (1967), Evan Gray (1975), Alan Hewson (1978), Glen Jonas (1993), Greg McKenzie (1991), Trevor Malloch (1953), Peter McGregor (1968), David Molony (1986), John Morrison (1967), David Oakley (1980), Tom O'Neil (1966), John Reid (1947), John Sigley (1959), Robert Smith (1968), Arch Taylor (1963), John Topp (1979), Tim Vogel (1981, Jumbo Symes (1934), Paul Barton 1954, Stew Cater (1974), Alan Clark (1955), Artie Dick (1962), Wayne Greenstreet (1969), Neville Huxford (1965), Russell Kean (1977), Steve Maguiness (1981), Malcolm McCaw (1952), Trevor McMahon (1953), Bruce Morrison (1954), Don Neely (1964), John Oakley (1947), Geoff Rabone (1940), Richard Reid (1979), Barry Sinclair (1956), Keith Smith (1953), Bruce Taylor (1970), Toivo Vaikvee (1973), Gordon Whyte (1940), Grahame Bilby 1962, Brian Cederwall (1973), Michael Coles (1967), Bruce Edgar (1975), Wilf Haskell (1956), Robin Jefferson (1969), Gavin Larsen (1984), Pat Malcon (1973), George McConnell (1961), Erv McSweeney (1982), Bruce Murray (1959), Jim Newbigin (1954), John Ogilvie (1954), Mick Randall (1948), Rodney Reid (1958), Bruce Smith (1966), Gary Solomon (1967), Jim Thomson (1953), Ross Verry (1986), Spiro Zavos (1959) and current players, Andrew Penn, Jeetan Patel, Mark Jefferson, Richard Jones, Iain O'Brien, Selwyn Blackmore, Grant Donaldson, Mark Gillespie and Matthew Bell.

Selectors, coaches, umpires and administrators attending are: Sir John Anderson, Sir Ron Brierley, Doug Catley, Earle Cooper, Stan Cowman, John Gibson, Fred Goodall, John Greenwood, Mike Horsley, John Hunn, Alan Isaac, Ian Taylor.

Women cricketers and administrators attending are: Mary Brito, Denise Craig, Jan Davies/Latham, Tracey Deveraux, Ngare Drake, Linden Eagles, Diana Goodall, Susanne Hall, Prue Hyman, Penny Kinsella, Joy Lamason/Stenberg, Verna MacDonald/Coutts, Jan MacFarlane, Betty Maker, Jean Malthus, Trish McKelvey, Julie Midgley, Maureen Peters, Jean Stonell, Janet Stribling.