Victor Trumper at Crown Street Superior Public School

Martin Chandler | 10:53pm GMT 04 January 2020

Published: 2019
Pages: 32
Author: Cattlin, James and Cardwell, Ronald
Publisher: The Cricket Press Pty Ltd
Rating: 3.5 stars

Back in 2016 The Cricket Press Pty Ltd produced the first volume in this series, involving Trumper Park. Over the next two years further volumes followed on Chatswood Oval and Redfern Oval (reviewed by The Mac here), all written by James Cattlin. The Crown Street title is the fourth and last in the series, and on this occasion Ronald Cardwell has shared the writing duties with Cattlin.

Trumper has proved an elusive subject for his various biographers and tackling his early life and schooldays was never going to be straightforward. Cardwell and Cattlin have not been able to come up with all the answers, but their hours of research enable them to explain the Australian educational system of Trumper’s youth and to give an idea as to how his childhood unfolded.

As well as Trumper Crown Street produced other notable cricketers, Monty Noble and Colin McCool foremost amongst them. Both of them, and others are looked at as is Victor Michael who died in 2018 at 86 and who, it would seem, was thought at one stage to be a man who might emulate Trumper’s legacy.

Such a book would not be complete without a glimpse at Crown Street today. As would be expected it is very different now from how it was in the days of its best known alumni. That Trumper is by no means forgotten at his alma mater is confirmed in the final section of the booklet, which deals with the great man’s legacy and how that is viewed today.

Whilst Trumper’s bibliography is nothing like as extensive as Bradman’s there are certainly plenty of books  and booklets out there that touch and concern him, a not inconsiderable number of them (I believe six) from this publisher. Victor Trumper at Crown Street Superior Public School is certainly a comprehensive look at Trumper’s life, nor does it deal to any significant extent with his most notable achievements, but it is an enjoyable glimpse at a rarely looked at aspect of his life, and the illustrations are a particular highlight.