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November 1975 and continuing…
Sale Title:
Auction House:
Auction Location:
Melbourne
Date:
22-Sep-2023
Lot No.
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Description:
November 1975 and continuing until just before Jessie's death in September 1997, John Cecil Cooke conducted a long and detailed correspondence, primarily with Don b Sir Donald & Lady Jessie Bradman : A Twenty-Two Year Correspondence: Beginning in Nov.1975 and continuing until just before Jessie's death in Sept. 1997, John Cecil Cooke conducted a long and detailed correspondence, primarily with Don but on several occasions, also with Jessie. For most of this period, Cooke lived in Singapore (where he was the Honorary Secretary of the Singapore Cricket Association), later moving to Western Australia, where he passed away in May 2020. The correspondence consists of 34 items signed by Don (aerogrammes, letters) and 9 items signed by Jessie (letters, cards). In addition, there are 6 Christmas cards, all signed by Don & Jessie. The whole group is housed in a specially designed wooden box with 'Letters of Bradman' engraved on the lid. Cooke and Bradman met at Lords in the early 1970s and got on very well. Sir Donald was a great admirer of Lee Kuen Yew - founding Prime Minister of Singapore. Cooke was one of the advisers to Lee Kuen Yew and the government and Bradman was very interested to learn more about Singapore and its' prime minister. Some quotations: 11 Nov. 1975: In reference to a South Australia v N.S.W. Sheffield Shield Match, Bradman writes '....one of the most exciting finishes I have ever seen...'. Jan. 1976: In discussing Australia v West Indies, Bradman writes 'Repeatedly Clive Lloyd seemed to lack any spark of initiative or inspiration and the whole team played without apparent fight or hope.'. 19 Mar. 1979: Australia v England - 'It is tragic what the Packer business has done to the game in this country. Yesterday a splendid Pakistan team was playing S.A. at Adelaide Oval....and 900 odd people attended. Something has to be changed.'. 29 Nov. 1979: England v West Indies - Day & Night match: 'It was an eerie sight - made more ghostly because the batsmen wore dark pads.'. 18 Feb. 1980: 'Whilst I am happy for my comments to be heard by your gathering, I would hate them to be used by journalists to stir-up controversy.....which they are always able to do.'. 10 June 1983: In the wake of Australia's defeat by Zimbabwe at the World Cup, 'Perhaps it might at last jolt our selectors out of their complacency. For too long they have tolerated insubordination, bad sporstmanship and misconduct.'
Estimate:
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Price:
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Category:
Unclassified