Researching John Waite

He was born in Johannesburg, Transvaal, and educated at Hilton College and Rhodes University. He was the first South African to play 50 Tests for his country and is generally acknowledged to be one of South Africa's finest wicket keepers. His total of 141 dismissals in Test matches stood as a record for his country until it was overtaken by Dave Richardson. In 1953–54 he set a new Test best of 23 dismissals in a single series, against New Zealand and broke his own record in 1961–62, with 26, also against New Zealand. He was also a solid batsman, scoring 76 on debut against England at Trent Bridge, and averaging over 30 in Tests with four Test centuries.

In addition to his Test career, he played first class cricket for Eastern Province and Transvaal, making his debut in 1948 and retiring in 1966. His highest first class score was 219 for Eastern Province against Griqualand West.

"A master who had a considerable following between about 1865 and 1880 was JohnMusgrave Waite, formerly Corporal-Quartermaster in the Second Life Guards, a regiment inwhich the tradition of the sabre had always been maintained. As far as the small-sword wasconcerned, Waite had been the pupil of Pierre Prévost, but his speciality was the sabre andthe singlestick, about which he wrote a book called Lessons in Sabre, Singlestick, Sabre and Bayonet, and Sword Feats; or, How to use a cut and thrust Sword, published in 1880. Sir Frederick Pollock, who joined Waite's school in 1868, says that his master had never been able to acquire that lightness of hand which would have enabled him to compete with his French colleagues, but that his lessons were excellent and profitable. Waite's genius lay in teaching the sabre, the practice version of which weapon was then a most formidable affair, far different from the feather-weight Italian sabre used today."

Nowadays his book (1880) on military sabre fencing is used at the Schola Gladiatoria as the base of its sabre fencing training.

Waite was born on 16 January 1942 in Wellingore, Lincolnshire, and raised in Grimsby. His father Reg taught English to girls at Wintringham Grammar School (now Oasis Academy). His mother Betty was of the Steel family, who believed John got his athleticism from her brothers, Jack and Walter, Wellingore football players in the 1930s.

Waite also played cricket during the summer months. He bowled for several teams, including Lincolnshire Colts, Cleethorpes Town, British Titan Products and Lindsey Oil Refinery.

Waite also wrote a weekly column for the Grimsby Telegraph. He also reported live on running matches on local radio.

Waite married his childhood sweetheart Susan Dale, who lived in the same neighborhood, in 1963. They had two children, Sally and Mark, the latter a professional soccer coach in the United States. Waite died on 3 April 2016. He was 74.