Vin Baston an officer and a gentleman

An Officer and a Gentleman, that was once how the eloquent Pat Fanning, former president of the GAA, described his former Mount Sion team-mate Vin Baston, and a fitting description it was, the popular and ever-courteous Baston having reached the rank of Commandant in the Irish Defence Forces before his untimely death in 1963 at the age of 44.

Today, June 4, is the 50th anniversary of his death. On Saturday last, in Crooke Cemetery in his home parish, his last resting place, his memory was honoured by the Passage GAA club, all the above heroic deeds (and many more) recounted in a fine oration by club PRO, Fintan Walsh. Present were two of the four young children he had left behind, now with kids of their own. Present also, sons and daughters of those on the Passage team who had soldiered with him all those years ago. Vin Baston — officer, gentleman, hurling legend; gone, never forgotten.

For those who knew him best, for those who were closest to him, and Pat Fanning was one of those, that was Vin Baston. An officer, a natural leader, and one of nature’s gentlemen.