Sir Thomas Melrose Coombe (3 December 1873 – 22 July 1959) was an Australian cricketer, businessman and philanthropist, best known for his role in the film industry of Western Australia.
Coombe was born at Melrose, South Australia, to Thomas Coombe and his wife Sarah (née Beddome). His father, of Cornish descent, was a timber and iron merchant who served as mayor of Broken Hill in 1890, having previously lived in Port Pirie. He moved to Western Australia in 1895, following the gold rushes, where he set up as a supplier of building materials, and subsequently served as mayor of the South Perth Municipality from 1906 to 1907.
His son was educated at Caterer's School, Norwood; Hahndorf College, Hahndorf; and Prince Alfred College, Adelaide.[1] He moved with his family to Perth, where he established himself as an importer of sporting goods.
Coombe played cricket for the Claremont-Cottesloe Cricket Club,[2] and also represented Western Australia against a number of touring sides from the eastern states.[3] His only first-class match was against South Australia at the WACA Ground in January 1906. Batting at number five in both innings, he was caught and bowled for a duck in the first innings by Algy Gehrs, and made 15 in the second innings before being caught off the bowling of Pat Travers.[4] Coombe later served as umpire in a single first-class match when South Australia toured at the end of the 1908–09 season.[5]
Business careeredit
In 1910, Coombe formed a partnership with Thomas James West, a British cinema exhibitor who owned the largest cinema circuit in Australia. In 1913, he became local managing director of Union Cinemas, formed from the merger of West's company and a competitor. Coombe financed the construction of several large cinemas in Perth and Fremantle, including the Prince of Wales Theatre on Murray Street, the Ambassadors Theatre on Hay Street, and the Princess Theatre in Fremantle. Coombe also served as president of the Theatre Managers' Association from 1921 to 1928. In 1928, he retired from a managerial role but continued as a director of Union Cinemas.
Personal lifeedit
Coombe was a noted philanthropist. In his role in the Theatre Managers' Association, he raised large sums of money for various causes, and also chaired the Boy Scouts Association of Western Australia. In 1921, he established the Coombe Scholarships, with a £5000 donation.
Coombe was a made a knight during a visit to England in June 1924, "in recognition of his public services".[6] However, in 1931, he was prosecuted and found guilty of income tax evasion, and fined £100. After Union Cinemas collapsed the same year, Coombe was forced to sell much of his property, although his sons remained in the cinema business. He later moved to Glenelg, a suburb of Adelaide, and then to Surrey in England, where he died in 1959.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abCoombe, Sir Thomas Melrose (1873–1959) – Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
^State and National cricketers – cncc.org.au. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
^Miscellaneous Matches played by Thomas Coombe (3) – CricketArchive. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
^Western Australia v South Australia in 1905/06 – CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
^Thomas Coombe as Umpire in First-Class Matches (1) – CricketArchive. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
thomas, coombe, anglican, priest, poet, priest, thomas, melrose, coombe, december, 1873, july, 1959, australian, cricketer, businessman, philanthropist, best, known, role, film, industry, western, australia, personal, informationfull, namethomas, melrose, coom. For the Anglican priest and poet see Thomas Coombe priest Sir Thomas Melrose Coombe 3 December 1873 22 July 1959 was an Australian cricketer businessman and philanthropist best known for his role in the film industry of Western Australia Sir Thomas CoombePersonal informationFull nameThomas Melrose CoombeBorn 1873 12 03 3 December 1873Melrose South AustraliaDied22 June 1959 1959 06 22 aged 85 Epsom Surrey EnglandBattingRight handedRoleBatsmanDomestic team informationYearsTeam1905 06Western AustraliaCareer statisticsCompetition First classMatches 1Runs scored 15Batting average 7 50100s 50s 0 0Top score 15Catches stumpings 0 Source CricketArchive 15 October 2011 Contents 1 Early life 2 Business career 3 Personal life 4 ReferencesEarly life editCoombe was born at Melrose South Australia to Thomas Coombe and his wife Sarah nee Beddome His father of Cornish descent was a timber and iron merchant who served as mayor of Broken Hill in 1890 having previously lived in Port Pirie He moved to Western Australia in 1895 following the gold rushes where he set up as a supplier of building materials and subsequently served as mayor of the South Perth Municipality from 1906 to 1907 His son was educated at Caterer s School Norwood Hahndorf College Hahndorf and Prince Alfred College Adelaide 1 He moved with his family to Perth where he established himself as an importer of sporting goods Coombe played cricket for the Claremont Cottesloe Cricket Club 2 and also represented Western Australia against a number of touring sides from the eastern states 3 His only first class match was against South Australia at the WACA Ground in January 1906 Batting at number five in both innings he was caught and bowled for a duck in the first innings by Algy Gehrs and made 15 in the second innings before being caught off the bowling of Pat Travers 4 Coombe later served as umpire in a single first class match when South Australia toured at the end of the 1908 09 season 5 Business career editIn 1910 Coombe formed a partnership with Thomas James West a British cinema exhibitor who owned the largest cinema circuit in Australia In 1913 he became local managing director of Union Cinemas formed from the merger of West s company and a competitor Coombe financed the construction of several large cinemas in Perth and Fremantle including the Prince of Wales Theatre on Murray Street the Ambassadors Theatre on Hay Street and the Princess Theatre in Fremantle Coombe also served as president of the Theatre Managers Association from 1921 to 1928 In 1928 he retired from a managerial role but continued as a director of Union Cinemas Personal life editCoombe was a noted philanthropist In his role in the Theatre Managers Association he raised large sums of money for various causes and also chaired the Boy Scouts Association of Western Australia In 1921 he established the Coombe Scholarships with a 5000 donation Coombe was a made a knight during a visit to England in June 1924 in recognition of his public services 6 However in 1931 he was prosecuted and found guilty of income tax evasion and fined 100 After Union Cinemas collapsed the same year Coombe was forced to sell much of his property although his sons remained in the cinema business He later moved to Glenelg a suburb of Adelaide and then to Surrey in England where he died in 1959 1 References edit a b Coombe Sir Thomas Melrose 1873 1959 Australian Dictionary of Biography Retrieved 15 October 2011 State and National cricketers cncc org au Retrieved 15 October 2011 Miscellaneous Matches played by Thomas Coombe 3 CricketArchive Retrieved 2 December 2012 Western Australia v South Australia in 1905 06 CricketArchive Retrieved 15 October 2011 Thomas Coombe as Umpire in First Class Matches 1 CricketArchive Retrieved 2 December 2012 No 14029 The Edinburgh Gazette 6 June 1924 p 762 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thomas Coombe amp oldid 1188107723, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
