Penrith Cricket Club's first Life Member, 'The Colonel' - Allan Blanche
Penrith Cricket Club | June 29, 2025
Allan Blanche, softly spoken, generous and a true gentleman, was one of those champions who preferred the shadows of the background to the blaze of glory, quiet type to whom the game of cricket everywhere is forever indebted.
He came to Penrith at the end of World War 2 from Rockhampton where he worked on the family cattle property. In 1954 he opened a butchery at the top end of High street, later shared with Trevor Wholohan. But he loved nothing more than to be involved in the cricket scene where he first played with Kingswood club and, in 1956, was instrumental in forming the Log Cabin Cricket Club which played in the Australian Hotels Competition.
In 1957, he donated to the fund to finance the transfer of the Aero Club Pavillion from Jamison Park to its present site as Howell Oval's Hunter Pavillion.
He was a long time supporter of the NDCA as a team manager, a member of the Nepean District Cricket Club's inaugural management committee and the Club's Treasurer. Before the appointment of a full time curator at Howell Oval he diligently prepared the practice wickets.
In 1975/76 the NSWCA appointed him manager of the City West team in the ANZ Cup. But the fondest memory of Allan is of him performing his role as the Penrith First Grade team manager, continuous from 1973/74 to 1982.83. He was the player's best mate, to him, they were "my boys". On game day no item of gear was ever missing and every player's whim was catered for, from shoe cleaner to gum. His drinks, like the other famous colonel he had a secret recipe, never divulged, were always on tap, at the drinks breaks, lunch, tea and stumps. His sandwiches at stumps, and his team meeting barbecues, often arranged in his own backyard and supported by his delightful wife Jo, were spirited affairs.
He was elected the Clubs first 'Life Member' in 1978/79, a fitting tribute for a cricket person described by John Benaud in the Premiership report as, "not a colonel, but a general". Allan Blanche passed away during the 1997/98 season. He was 79.
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