Ernest Oswald (known as “EO”) Blamires was born in the state of Victoria in Australia, in 1881 and was educated at Wesley College, Melbourne, (a religious Methodist school).

In 1903 he came to New Zealand and trained as a Methodist minister and following his ordination served in Port Chalmers, Napier, Kaiapoi, Dunedin, Wellington, Hawera and Hamilton.

A keen sportsman and cricketer, he was selected as a Wellington cricket representative in the 1911-12 season. In 1923 he captained South Taranaki against the touring Australians, in which he took five catches in one innings. In 1923 he represented Whanganui and the following year he scored 1,000 runs in Otago and was selected for New Zealand. That season he also captained Otago to its first-ever Plunket Shield victory, defeating Wellington.

Ernest married Annie Anderson in 1910 with whom he had three daughters, Betty, Nina Vivienne and Patricia. Always linking sport to his religious calling, Blamires provided service in administration and governance for clubs associated with local Methodist churches throughout New Zealand, throughout his life.

He died in Takapuna, Auckland, on 6 June, 1963.

Picture: “EO” Blamires, circled, with the Otago Representative Cricket Team.