The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Scottish sports hero remembered with special cricket game
LEGACY: Memory of Maurice Dickson was celebrated by family in Brechin
He was the Scotland cricket and rugby hero who passed on his love of sport down the generations.
Right-handed batsman Maurice Rhynd Dickson made his first-class debut against Joe Darling’s Australian team in 1905, which was the same year he played rugby for Scotland in a six-point loss to Ireland at the Home Nations Championship.
To celebrate his life and legacy, Mr Dickson’s family organised a cricket match in his memory at Guthrie Park in Brechin with three generations of his family participating, with those playing in the MR Dickson team aged from 11 to 80.
His great-granddaughter Annabel Harrison said: “I am sure Maurice passed down his love of sport through the generations, some of whom are playing against the Brechin Buccaneers.
“This year my father (David Conran Smith) is turning 80 and to mark this milestone he organised a family cricket match in his memory.
“The team consisted of Maurice’s grandson, a great-grandson and four great-great-grandsons.
“Three players are married to three of Maurice’s great-granddaughters.
“For the whole family, it is such an honour to be part of this amazing day.
“It is not the usual opposition for the Brechin Buccaneers but it’s a great day of fun, and of course cricket.
“We are so proud of all of Maurice’s achievements and this seems a great way to celebrate his love of sport and also to celebrate the 80th birthday of his grandson David Conran-Smith.”
Mr Dickson, who was born in Panbride, went to Merton College in Oxford where he played cricket and rugby.
He followed in his uncle’s footsteps and became a solicitor in Arbroath and made his first-class cricket debut against Australia in 1905.
He scored an unbeaten 62 in the fourth innings and held on in the dying overs with number 11 Frederick Bull to secure a draw.
The following year he had another good performance against the West Indies with contributions of 36 and 81.
When Australia played Scotland at Edinburgh again in 1912, Dickson made his highest score of 98, missing out on a century when he was bowled by Roy Minnett.
In all but two of Mr Dickson’s 13 firstclass cricket appearances for Scotland, he was captain.
Mr Dickson was capped just once for the Scotland national rugby union team, when he appeared as a forward against Ireland at Inverleith.
Mr Dickson also served in the rank of Colonel with the Royal Scots Fusiliers during the First World War.
He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order “for distinguished service in connection with military operations in Salonica” in the King’s 1918 Birthday Honours.
He was also made an Officer of the
Legion of Honours.
He was also a member of the Queen’s Bodyguard for Scotland, The Royal Company of Archers.
Married to Florence Thorburn, the couple had two daughters, Mhairi and Frances.
Mr Dickson died while living in Arbroath in 1940.