Perce Hargreaves - Penrith Cricket Club

Penrith Cricket Club | July 20, 2026

Cricket lost a great servant when Perce Hargreaves passed away in 1991 at the age of 80. After the idea of a turf pitch main ground in the Penrith District was first mooted in 1948, Hargreaves and a friend Jack Maiden worked tirelessly to convince Council to proceed.

It came to pass in 1956 and was known as the ‘Penrith Turf’. In 1957 Perce pushed for the area to be re-named Howell Oval after William Peter Howell. Perce and Jack were the first curators. During the 30s Perce forged a formidable reputation as an all-rounder playing with Emu Plains and Penrith Clubs. A very tall man, but a good mover and with a reach and footwork that enhanced his attacking left-hand batting, he also bowled leg spin accurately.

?

From his great height, and on the concrete and matting pitches of the day, it was his ‘toppie’ that confused the batsmen, a bouncy menace it was. Perce was instrumental in founding the St Dominic’s Cricket Club, where he coached juniors for many years. He was a member of the NDCA Board of Control and a Vice-president of this Club. In 1993/94 a Clubman Of The Year Award was struck and Perce’s name attached to it. He was prominent in the fuel industry business.