Sports broadcaster Trevor Rigby died on Christmas Eve.

Former Wellington sports broadcaster Trevor Rigby died on Christmas Eve, aged 83. Rigby's calm, distinctive commentaries of football and cricket at the Basin Reserve were heard up until the early 1980s.

He of the 'that shot was high, wide and handsome....  '.

For the record, Trevor was one of the NZ Soccer Media Association's five life members.

Sadly, he is the third member of that quintet to pass on in the last two years. Trevor Rowse died in February 2013, and Alan Richards in December last year.

Armin Lindenberg and Barry Smith are still very much alive and kicking, thankfully.

Trevor was a great guy who used to call in and see us when we were based in Adelaide Road.   Always had a story, and advice if needed.

I remember writing the following for the WSA history page - still there in the CF website

"1995
Former radio commentator, soccer and cricket identity Trevor Rigby, who could make the dullest national soccer league match sound interesting, recently made a refereeing comeback in the most bizarre circumstances. A Rongotai College man from way back, Rigby turned up to watch a second grade youth soccer match against Wellington College to find no referee and no parents able to control the game. It was a situation Rigby, a great supporter of schools sport, would have relished in the past.

Unfortunately, he has recently undergome heart surgery and explained that the only way he could help out was if the teams agreed to him refereeing while standing in the centre circle.

No problem they said, but by half time Rigby was feeling tired - "the mental strain" as he put it.Determined that the boys game would not be spoilt, Rigby got some step ladders and controlled the second half while sitting atop them in the centre circle. Well done Trevor" 

(Russell Grey - Dominion - 16/8/95)

Classic!