It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Graeme Watson on 21 July, after a long battle with his health.

Graeme, along with his wife Lesley and their children, emigrated from Scotland in 1974 and made Wellington their home. His unmistakable Scottish accent became a familiar and much-loved presence in cricket circles around the country.

Graeme began his involvement in New Zealand cricket in the late 1970s, umpiring local club games in Wellington before moving south to Invercargill in 1988. There, he became a Life Member of the Southland Umpires and Scorers Association, contributing both as an umpire and a scorer, including a decade as the dedicated scorer for the Southland Hawke Cup team.

After returning to Wellington in 2008, Graeme continued scoring for Hutt Districts Cricket Club until 2014, but his most enduring legacy was his work off the field. He served as Secretary for the Southland Umpires and Scorers Association (1991–2008), the Wellington Cricket Umpires and Scorers Inc (2009–2018), and the New Zealand Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association (2010–2021). Graeme was a Life Member of both NZCUSA and, most recently, CWUSI, an honour granted in 2024.

Since retiring and returning to Wellington, Graeme remained a passionate supporter of the game. He was a proud Cricket Wellington member and a fixture in the Trish McKelvey Lounge, always seated in the front row, by the window, watching his beloved Firebirds, Blaze, BLACKCAPS and WHITE FERNS. That seat will always hold a special place in our hearts.

Graeme’s funeral will be held on Monday 29 July at 2.00pm, at Gee & Hickton, Knights Road, Lower Hutt.

Our thoughts are with Lesley and the Watson family. Graeme's contribution to cricket, his humour, and his enduring presence in our community will be deeply missed.

Article added: Friday 25 July 2025