Robert Alan Vance CBE (29 December 1924 – 7 November 1994) was a New Zealand cricketer who played first-class cricket for Wellington from 1948 to 1962. He was chairman of the New Zealand Cricket Council from 1978 to 1987.
![]() Vance in 1962 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Full name | Robert Alan Vance | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | (1924-12-29)29 December 1924 Wellington, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Died | 7 November 1994(1994-11-07) (aged 69) Wellington, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Batting | Right-handed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Relations | Bert Vance (son) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1947/48–1961/62 | Wellington | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: Cricinfo, 21 September 2015 |
Vance was a member of the Wellington Colts XI that was undefeated in the 1946–47 season.[1] He made his first-class debut for Wellington in 1947–48, and established his position as an opening batsman in 1950–51, when he scored 75 and 29 in a victory over Auckland.[2] He remained in the team, sometimes as an opener, sometimes batting at number three or four. He made his only century, 109 against Central Districts, on Christmas Day 1956.[3]
He captained Wellington in 1953-54 and 1961-62 when John Reid, Wellington's captain from 1951-52 to 1964–65, was touring South Africa with the Test team. In 1961-62 Wellington won their first four matches inside two days and won the Plunket Shield.[4] After the season Vance retired from first-class cricket.
Vance was chairman of the New Zealand Cricket Council from 1978 to 1987, and managed the New Zealand cricket team in England in 1986.[5] The R. A. Vance Stand at Basin Reserve in Wellington, built in 1979–80, is named in his honour.[6]
In the 1983 New Year Honours, Vance was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, for services to cricket and the community.[7]
His son Bert played Test cricket for New Zealand in the 1980s.