Evan Denham
New Zealand surgeon and cricketer (1913–1991)
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Hono Evan Horrell Denham (18 May 1913 – 16 June 1991) was a New Zealand surgeon and cricketer. He played in one first-class match for Canterbury in 1945/46.[1]
18 May 1913
Evan Denham | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | Hono Evan Horrell Denham 18 May 1913 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 16 June 1991 (aged 78) Christchurch, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | Canterbury University College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Surgeon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse |
Bunty Robertson (m. 1946) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cricket career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cricket information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right-arm leg-spin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1945/46 | Canterbury | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: Cricinfo, 21 December 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Military career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Allegiance | New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Branch | New Zealand Medical Corps | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Service years | 1941–1945 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rank | Captain | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Conflicts | World War II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Life and career
Denham was born in Brisbane, Australia, but brought up in Christchurch, where his father, Henry George Denham, was professor of chemistry and rector of Canterbury University College.[2] He was educated at Christ's College, Christchurch, before studying medicine at Canterbury University College,[3] graduating MB ChB in 1937.[2] He worked and undertook further training in hospitals in New Zealand and England before being admitted to the Fellowship of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons in May 1941.[2][4]
Denham joined the New Zealand Expeditionary Force Medical Corps in mid-1941 and served until 1945, becoming a captain and surgical specialist and serving in North Africa and Italy.[2][5] He returned to Christchurch after the war, working as a surgeon in Christchurch Hospital.[6] He remained there until 1978, specialising in thoracic surgery.[2] He served as chairman of the New Zealand Postgraduate Medical Federation from 1966 to 1976.[2]
A leg-spin bowler and useful lower-order batsman, Denham played one first-class match for Canterbury in the first Plunket Shield season after the war. Canterbury won, but his contribution was modest, and he was not selected again.[7]
In Christchurch in 1946, Denham married Bunty Robertson, a Scottish nurse he had met while they were both working in Oswestry before the war. They had three daughters, all of whom became nurses, and a son, who became a farmer.[2] Denham died in Christchurch on 16 June 1991.[1] His wife, Bunty, died in 2008.[8]