With the naming of the main cricket oval after Beckwith it was agreed to rename the cricket pavilion the ROWAN ROOM.

 

The Rowan brothers are still household names in South African cricket. We are delighted that Di Thompson, Eric’s daughter and Gary, Athol’s younger son could be with us today.

 

It is particularly fitting for this room to be named in honour of the Rowans because most of the memorabilia inside it belonged to them. For example, the extraordinary cricket stump was donated to the school by the van Beuge family, Tex a former Headboy, having married Atholie Rowan and only two years ago Di donated to the school a framed acknowledgement by the Sunday Express newspaper of Eric’s feat of setting the then South African batting record of 236 runs at Headingly Leeds in 1951.

 

Rowan also captained South Africa on several occasions on that tour. Incredibly he played first class cricket into his fifties. In 1951 he was one of WISDEN’s Cricketers of the year.

 

Although Eric’s test career outshone his, Athol was a true cricketing prodigy. His own international career was cut short by a war injury, which hampered his bowling and forced his early retirement.

 

He still holds the batting record at Jeppe. It is, believe it or not, as follows:

 

Innings 12; Not out 5; Highest score 186; Aggregate 1199; Average 171.28

 

Remember, Athol won his Springbok colours as a bowler! His bowling figures in the First XI were equally formidable:

 

Overs 140.4; maidens 37; Runs 355; Wickets 46; Average 7.71.

 

Apart from the highest batting average, he still holds the batting record of having scored 8 centuries for the first eleven.