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 | | | You are in: Special Events: 2001: Death of Don Bradman |
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| |  Sunday, 25 March, 2001, 17:07 GMT 18:07 UK Crowds gather for The Don The Adelaide Oval scoreboard pays homage to The Don BBC Sport Online's Anita Kazmierczak joins mourners at the Adelaide Oval as they pay their respects to Sir Donald Bradman. In keeping with The Don's wishes the day was a simple and personal affair. Sir Donald Bradman's memorial service passed without the fanfare often associated with the passing of the famous.
The ceremony was a celebration of Bradman's qualities as a man more than of his qualities as a great sportsman. And across the road from St Peter's Cathedral mourners gathered at the Adelaide Oval, which hosted some of his finest innings, to watch the service televised live on giant screens. As the sun set over the western grandstand of Bradman's most cherished ground, the South Australian Cricket Association gave out candles to the crowd. The feeling at the Oval was one of warmth as strangers huddled together and helped light each others' candles. It was a scene Sir Don would have been proud to see - one of Australians looking out for each other. Millions more watched a TV broadcast of the service in India and Pakistan - a testament to Bradman's astonishing international reputation.
A moving vocal rendition of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Pie Jesu by Sir Don's grand-daughter Greta Bradman was a highlight of the church service. She also spoke about the closeness of the family and her special relationship with her grandfather. Back at the Oval, young and old Australians talked with great respect and honour of their cherished legend. "If I had a boyhood hero, he was it," said Jim Brooks, 71, of Coffs Harbour, New South Wales. "I saw him play in 1936, when I was a seven-year-old, and several more times after the war.
"Although time must have an effect on your memory, he always came across to me as a magic figure. "He affected the whole ground that way, the atmosphere was different to when anybody else was playing. "He had such a command of the bat, it was a privilege to see him play and it's one of my greatest memories." Bill McKenzie, 64, of Victor Harbour, South Australia, also had fond recollections of seeing Bradman play. "Don Bradman had the ability to pick up what the ball was going to do quicker than anyone ever has - he could play the right shot every time," he said. | |
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