Barry Streekcricket As a cricketer, Robbie Armitage, who represented South Africa in 1983, was known for his fighting qualities, his determination and his style.
When he died in Grahamstown last Saturday night at the age of 45 after a long battle with cancer, he again demonstrated those same qualities.
He had gone to Grahamstown to celebrate his parent’s 50th wedding anniversary and he was able to join part of the celebrations with his family and 100 guests. He died that night in his parents’ home, where he grew up.
Armitage, who first represented Eastern Province as a St Andrews schoolboy, was the province’s number three batsman and off-spin bowler from 1973 to 1989. Apart from his school, his province and his country, he also played for Rhodes University.
One of his university colleagues and close friend for 35 years, Dave Emslie, chief executive of the Eastern Province Cricket Board, said: “He was always been a determined cricketer and his opposition always had great respect for him. For me, that is a mark of a successful cricketer.”
He had extensive treatment for his cancer, which was first diagnosed two years ago, both in South Africa and in Switzerland, and was convinced he would recover so that he could go back to work in the New Year. Typically, he had asked his wife of 17 years, Carolynne, to go to Johannesburg with their oldest son, Greg (16), to watch their youngest son, Craig (12), play cricket for the Eastern Province under-13B team at an inter-provincial tournament. They were there when he died.
Apart from his wife and children, his parents Stuart and Millicent, Armitage leaves a brother, Chris, and sisters, Gill and Jenny. His funeral took place on Wednesday at the St Andrew’s College chapel in Grahamstown.
Another of his close friends at university, Rob Maclean, commented: “Who can forget the memorable and hilarious stage production in the 80s called Under the Oaks when a northern suburbs Capetonian, Korkie Labuschagne, would interrupt his conversation with a Michaelhouse old boy and yell out across the stage and over the audience: ‘Armitage, hit the blerrie ball, man.’
“We can but ask: would Korkie have yelled so if Robbie wasn’t a sporting hero?”