Rare record of historic cricket tour

PAGES OF HISTORY: The 1927 booklet owned by the Millward family.PHOTOS/STUART MUNRO CRICKETBOOK1

AN 88-YEAR-OLD booklet which chronicles the cricket tour that put New Zealand on the world stage, and included two local men, is a Wanganui family heirloom.

Souvenir of First NZ Cricket Team to Visit Great Britain, 1927 was brought into the Wanganui Chronicle this week by Viv Millward, after receiving it from her mother-in-law, Jane Millward.

The commemorative booklet with the match records and player photos from the 28-game tour was compiled in Wanganui by a JH Hayhow, who stated in the introduction that the efforts of the New Zealanders would likely see them included in Ashes cricket against Australia and Great Britain.

In fact, the privately financed Kiwi team, led by future test captain Tom Lowry, did well enough in their first class games with English county sides to convince the MCC to make a return tour in 1929-30, with New Zealand granted test match status from that point.

The 1927 booklet was produced by Crown Depot Print Wanganui and came to the Millward family through Jane's late husband Ken.

"Ken was given it on the year of his birth, 1927, by his uncle, Hugh Millward," said Viv Millward.

"This booklet was probably made by the original Chronicle firm. We could have put it on our shelves, but we thought it would be more fun to share."

The family had lived on Dickson Cres as near neighbours of Ernest "Bill" Bernau (1896-1966), the Napier-born cricketer who played first class games for Hawke's Bay and Wellington, then minor association for Wanganui when he was called into the 1927 New Zealand touring side.

Also in the 1927 team was Wanganui-born Charlie Oliver (1905-1977), who moved to Canterbury and played first class cricket, before focusing on rugby and playing 33 games for the All Blacks.

Auction house Webb's has listed a copy of the booklet online under the rare books section, with a value of $200.