Trevor Rigby: gave a lot to sports in capital

FORMER Wellington sports broadcaster Trevor Rigby died on Christmas Eve, aged 83.

Rigby’s calm, distinctive commentaries of football and cricket at the Basin Reserve were heard up until the early 1980s.

Current cricket commentator Bryan Waddle was one of those to pause yesterday and remember Rigby’s contribution to not only broadcasting but local sport as a coach, administrator and mentor.

Waddle shared the cricket microphone with Rigby in the late 1970s and early 1980s and said it was a pleasurable experience.

‘‘He was gentle, one of the nicest people, he never had a bad word to say about any one,’’ Waddle said.

‘‘He was very measured in what he did and a positive person.

‘‘He gave all his time to others and never took the credit for anything he might have done,’’ Waddle said.

Rigby was on hand when New Zealand beat England in a cricket test at the Basin Reserve in 1978.

‘‘He was commentating when (Geoff) Boycott was bowled by (Richard) Collinge.

‘‘He wasn’t one to get overly excited, he was measured in everything he did, but he was very excited by that. It was a great piece of commentary too.’’

Rigby was far more than a good voice.

He was an integral member of the Kilbirnie Cricket Club (later Eastern Suburbs) and Miramar Rangers Football Club and was heavily involved at Rongotai College, formerly as a pupil and later as an old boy.

Among the pupils he mentored were Bruce Edgar and Ian Smith.

Rigby’s contribution to Wellington sport was recognised two months ago when he was awarded an Absolutely Positively Wellingtonian award.