Trevor Edward Luke

9 October 1951 – 18 March 2024

It was with great sadness that Trevor Luke passed away recently after a brief illness.

He made a major contribution to cricket in Christchurch and Canterbury, both as a player and an administrator.

He played for the Lancaster Park Cricket Club from 1972 to 2013. He was a member of the Canterbury team that went to the National Rothmans Under 23 tournament in 1974-75.

For much of that time, he played in the Senior grade as a competitive right-arm medium-pace bowler and a useful lower-order batsman. As a demanding outswing bowler, he took 437 wickets at an impressive average of 18.91; this included six five-wicket bags. As a batsman, Trevor had 171 innings with 83 of them not out; clearly, he valued his wicket! Recognition of his feats was his selection in the Lancaster Park Senior Club Team (that covered the period from 1981 – 2006) as announced at the club’s 125th Anniversary Dinner.

Trevor’s playing days did not stop there. From 1991-92 he entered the ranks of the Park Presidents team. While his bowling feats diminished through age, his batting flourished. He often opened the innings and was renowned for his aggressive lofted onside shots. Standing out was a 147no against St Albans in 1998 and, again, 130 in 20 overs against the same opposition in 2002.

Trevor finally hung up the boots in 2013.

However, in many ways, Trevor’s most significant contribution to Canterbury cricket was as an administrator.

He served as the Club Captain of the Lancaster Park Club from 1995-2002 and as Club Chairman from 2009-2011 (and again 2013-14). He was made a Life member of the club.

He was on the Club Cricket Advisory Group for Canterbury Cricket from 1999-2000 and then was appointed to the Board of Directors from 2001 until his retirement in 2008. In 2012 he was made a Life member of Canterbury Cricket.

In 2012, with the establishment of the Christchurch Metropolitan Cricket Association whose purpose was to oversee and administer club and youth cricket in Christchurch, Trevor accepted the role as its inaugural President. He held this vital position for the mandatory three years.

As was his contribution to all these positions in cricket, Trevor brought a gravitas and level-headed approach allied with his considerable business acumen to any Board table. His was a very important role as he would “cut to the chase” with his

perceptive, common-sense approach to many important matters including the appointment of a new Canterbury Cricket CEO and the search for a future permanent cricketing home for Canterbury Cricket following the demise of Lancaster Park. Further, his influence in managing the finances and strategy of the fledgling Metro Association as it bedded in was significant.

Trevor was a highly successful businessman.

He played for many years for the Sydenham senior rugby team in the Christchurch club competition.

Over the last three decades, Trevor developed a passion for the thoroughbred racing industry in which he enjoyed considerable success as an owner and as a breeder. He owned and bred a number of black-type horses that raced with success In New Zealand, Australia and Singapore.