John Buddle RIP
View the full Funeral Service on You Tube 60 mins duration
A Tribute – Gerald John Buddle (1934-2024)
by Michael Weeks BEM (Cornwall Cricket League Secretary)
As the Town Clock struck noon on Wednesday 14th August 2024 the great and good of Camborne gathered at the town’s Wesley Methodist Church to celebrate the life of one of its pillars of the community – Gerald John Buddle. It was just two days after John should have been celebrating his ninetieth birthday, an event he had been greatly looking forward to by hosting his family at his Tregenna Fields home on the western outskirts of his hometown. His children Rachel, Graham and Mark, grandchildren and great-grandchildren making the journey from various parts of the country. In turn, he was again anticipating the long family tradition of attending the Kia Oval Test Match later in the summer. Sadly neither was to happen as John passed away at the Royal Cornwall Hospital on the morning of Wednesday 24 July – three weeks to the day that he witnessed his last beloved Vinter Cup Final at Roskear. That night he was in fine form having recovered from a fall that ruptured his Achilles resulting in months of recovery and physiotherapy.
However, the end came swiftly following a sudden unexpected illness for the former Camborne Cricket Club President, Chairman, and Honorary Life Member. As his son Mark said, “We are all in shock, but in Dad’s inevitable style he always said when he was to go he wanted to go quickly!!” His long-time friend and colleague current Camborne CC Chair the Reverend Mark Richards was on duty as a Hospital Chaplain at Treliske that morning and therefore able to get the sad news out swiftly later in the day. The tributes on social media flooded in that evening.
Typical of the man John had things planned with Reverend Mark designated to conduct the funeral service which John had crafted himself including the Eulogy, the hymn choices (Be Still For The Presence Of The Lord; When I Survey The Wondrous Cross and Thine be the Glory) with the striking exit music of Vivaldi’s Spring from the Four Seasons. What John couldn’t plan were the added extras: unbroken sunshine in this of all summers; the funeral cortege going out of its way to pass John’s former Camborne family business premises at 31 Commercial Street at walking pace, three members of the current occupiers, Bradleys Estate Agents, stood outside and bowed – something the family greatly appreciated. Then at a packed church, one of the funeral company bearers was none other than the great Cornish Cricketer MST (Malcolm) Dunstan. It all fell into place perfectly.
John was still a serving member of the Cornwall Cricket League Management Committee. The second longest currently having been elected in 2004. A more appropriate appointment would be hard to imagine. John’s grandfather was the first Secretary/Treasurer of the Cornwall Cricket League when it was founded in 1905. He was appointed at the meeting that began it that year on 9th May at Tehidy Working Men’s Club. Following a meeting at Truro with Eastern Representatives later in the month the first set of rules were circulated and signed by John R Buddle – Secretary, Dolcoath Road, Camborne.
The Vinter Cup T20 competition began in 1934 with the Camborne ground its traditional home. All but one of the finals since 1955 has been played at Roskear. It was John's 'baby' and he was instrumental in gaining the sponsorship of Bradleys Estate Agents Ltd from 2005-2008 and getting it renewed in 2016 to the current day. It was somewhat fitting my last conversation with John was at the 2024 Final held on 3 July which featured his own club, Camborne against Penzance. We were in the pavilion, which he played such a key part in getting built in the early seventies. We discussed the new Club Honours Boards which he had been part of setting up and of course features his name engraved as a Life Member, President & Chairman.
Our paths probably first crossed some 50 years ago in the time of the three-day week, power cuts and Abba! My family moved houses in Camborne Town Centre at the time and of course, it was John who acted for us professionally. Who else with our family playing links with Camborne where he was a leading Club Officer. In all the years since he has been nothing but a gentleman and, in a former life, I remember he employed me and my brother to decorate his Estate Agents shop on a Sunday. The business had to continue in the working week of course. My brother was only decorating John’s house as recent as July this year. John was watching Wimbledon, driving to various appointments and planning his trip to London later in the summer.
I know the love he had for the Camborne Club and played such a prominent role behind the scenes including the purchase of the ground from the Pendarves Estate. Over the last twenty years, his wisdom transgressed to the Cornwall Cricket League Management Committee. He would quietly sit and listen to debates and then give a considered opinion. A man of few words but when he spoke he usually hit the right note and conclusion.
Cornwall Cricket League President Vic Hassell said this at the time of his passing: “This is most unexpected and sad - I chatted to John at the Vinter - full of life and love for cricket. His work and help to me as LMC Chair for 9 Years was always unstinting and supportive. Goodnight John and dream of the red and willow. “ M V Hassell, CCL President
League Vice-Chair Robert Jobson, Veryan CC President, former Journalist and born and educated at Carehays, whose mother was a member the Williams family, has provided the following anecdote of ‘what might have been for John’:
Despite his lifelong devotion to Camborne and his pride in Camborne Cricket Club, John Buddle let slip a few months ago that things might have been different if only his ancestors had been a shade less extravagant.
The clue to their racy past was clearly visible. His home in Camborne was named Trevanion, an indicator that his family was descended from the Trevanions of Caerhays.
For centuries they were ranked one of Cornwall’s top six families, landed gentry with a 40,000 acre portfolio, mineral rights spread across Mid-Cornwall and fighters of distinction for assorted Kings of England.
Alas, they succumbed to the pleasures of port, sherry and wine, betting on race horses, succumbing to the amorous Byrons and hiring one of Britain’s most expensive architects, John Nash, to design their castle just as they were running out of cash.
Spiralling debts led to bankruptcy and the last of the male Trevanions being pursued by bailiffs as he fled from Cornwall and caught a boat to Belgium.
By the time John Buddle appeared on the scene in the 1930’s, there were no Trevanions left and Caerhays Castle and Estate had been acquired by the Williams mining and banking family, of Gwennap and - dare we say it - Redruth.
John said: “My maternal family tree goes back to the Trevanions - hence our house is named Trevanion. Several years ago when we went to Caerhays Castle, I in a wilder moment told the owner, Charles Williams, that I should be living there rather than him.”
“We acquired a copy of his Caerhays book, which includes two sections dealing with the Trevanions and their disastrous ending. Charles signed the book: ‘To John Buddle, a descendant of the Trevanions.’ It’s a lovely thing to have.”
As earlier mentioned John wrote his own eulogy and left notes including details of his family business J R Buddle & Sons, Auctioneers & Estate Agents plus Travel Agents and Explosive Agents. As the third -generation John saw the centenary completed before his retirement in the year 2000.
Born in on 12 August 1934 at Fore Street, Camborne before moving to Gustavus Road.
Educated at Elmhurst Preparatory School (Miss Blights) before Truro Cathedral School Junior and Senior – but not as a chorister!
Decided to take up a career in Property and at 18 went to the College of Estate Management at London University to study for professional exams.
National Service - Royal Engineers at Newbury.
Worked for six years in Ealing for a firm of General Practice Surveyors and Estate Agents.
In this time met and, in 1961, married Betty
His Father died suddenly on Christmas Day in 1962 and John immediately returned to Cornwall to become the third generation of JR Buddle & Sons.
A Member of Camborne Round Table it created a wide friendship.
He volunteered for the Local Camborne Committee of Cancer Research in 1965 – Chairman from 1980 until 2019 when he became President until his death - 59 years and five months of service. Honorary Fellowship of CRUK awarded in 2015. Flame of Hope Award for outstanding services to Cancer UK.
Served on Cornwall Council of St John’s Ambulance managing the portfolio of property and 27 years as a General Commissioner of Income Tax. A Trustee of Camborne Literary Institution Chartered Trust, Rotary Club of Carn Brea and Camborne Probus Club.
He became involved with the local branch of the Incorporated Society of Valuers & Auctioneers.
Along with Chartered Surveyors one of the two professional bodies in the UK and wider world.
He was proud to be nominated as Cornwall’s representative on the National Council in London.
This started a ten-year involvement leading to being elected the National President of the ISVA in 1990. The first Cornishman to head up the role of one of the two professional bodies of the land.
He said “Along with seeing out the centenary of JR Buddle & Sons a highlight of my working life.”
Enjoyed cricket and football and played League snooker for over seventy years.
In retirement, he and Betty travelled the world for holidays and watched England play cricket.
For four years John became Betty’s carer before she entered a Care Home.
-ends-
