Cricket and golf stalwart dies
His long-time friend, Dr Ali Bacher called him a quality man.
The ashes of a well-known cricketer, golfer, businessman and long-time resident of Hillbrow were sprinkled at the Houghton Golf Club’s grounds on Saturday last week.
Mr Norman “Mobile” Gordon Snr died at the age of 103, after a long heart-related illness on September 2, just 26 days after his birthday.
His long-time friend, Dr Ali Bacher called him a quality man.
The Old Boys’ executive member at Jeppe High School for Boys, Mr Keven Robin, described Mr Gordon as one of the outstanding Old Boys who always had his school’s interests at heart.
His team-mate at the Air force XI, Mr Walter Hammond, said he was the best seam bowler he had faced since the Sussex and England player, Maurice Tate.
His son, Mr Brian Gordon, described his father as a wonderful man with great sense of humour.
Some residents will remember Mr Gordon Snr as the man who stayed in the same property in Hillbrow for 60 years. Others will remember him as one of the best cricketers to come from South Africa, while some knew Mr Gordon Snr as a seasoned golfer who played golf until he was 96 years old.
Mr Kevin Robin, from Jeppe High School Old Boys, said Mr Gordon Senior played in the school’s first soccer and cricket teams.
“He was one of the great soccer players of the time but he chose cricket,” said Mr Robin.
He added that Mr Gordon Snr was a valuable Old Boy for the school.
“He was one of the prominent Old Boys who still had the school’s interests at heart, even after many years of graduating from the school. He and many others supported the school in different ways. That is why we named our cricket score boards after him,” said Mr Robin.
His long time friend, Dr Ali Bacher, said their relationship goes as far back as when Mr Gordon Snr had a sports shop in the Johannesburg city centre.
“During those days, my mother used to take me to shop for a new cricket bat every year. I enjoyed those visits,” said Dr Bacher.
He said that among the lessons he learnt from Mr Gordon Snr, one in particular stands out.
“Decency and to always do the right thing. This was a quality man and a lovely person. He loved his sport. He used to say that sport made him meet good people, people he would not have met outside golf and cricket,” said Dr Bacher.
Mr Gordon Jnr said he bonded more with his father after the death of his mother 13 years ago.
“He gave my mother the best care ever. We both took care of her. My father was doing the night shift and I was doing the day shift,” said Mr Gordon Jnr.
“Among other things, he taught me to treat other people the way I want to be treated,” he said.
After his mother’s death, he and his father travelled a lot.
“We made friends with the staff at the bed and breakfasts within and outside South Africa. Because of his charming nature, people loved us wherever we went. Our relationship grew stronger during the travelling,” said Mr Gordon Jnr.
He said he still remembers how his father received the nickname Mobile.
“He told me that when he was playing cricket, he struggled to keep his hair down. So he used lots of oil on his hair. His team-mates gave him the nickname from that,” he said.
Mr Gordon Snr made his debut in provincial cricket in 1942, playing for Transvaal against Western Province at Newlands.
Mr Gordon Jnr said it was the “Timeless Test” that was played in Durban that showed Mr Gordon Snr’s strengths.
“My father and another Jeppe High School for Boys pupil, the late Mr Eric Rowan, were part of the South African team that played against England. The game started on March 3 and ended on March 14. This was the longest first class match ever contested,” he said.
He added that the game ended in a draw when the England team went home.
“The war was about to start, so the England team was summoned to return home immediately. So the team had to go to Cape Town to catch its boat to England,” he said.
He added that Mr Gordon Snr displayed remarkable stamina during this game.
Once Mr Gordon Snr finished with cricket, he began focussing more on golf.
“He was a keen golfer. He even scored a hole-in-one when he was 87. He was made an honorary member of the Houghton Golf Club, where he often visited with his son, Brian, until his death,” said Mr Robin.
