Son of Fred Tate, the man forever associated with the failure of the 1902 Test at Old Trafford.
Maurice was perhaps the first bowler to consistently and deliberately use the seam.
A man that clearly loved his cricket and brought cheer to a ground.
He might have been grinning when he ran in but he meant to destroy the batsman wicket with every ball.
As a member of the MCC side to go to Australia in 1924-5 he beat the Arthur Mailey record by taking 38 wickets in a Test series.
He actually bowled Mailey out for the 37th wicket.
Alec Bedser was to beat this record in 1953 taking 39 wickets.
He was no fool with the bat, but as a bowler of his stature it is difficult not to see it as a very secondary talent.