Death and Posthumous Reputation
Wren died in 1953, a month after suffering a heart attack while witnessing his team Collingwood win the VFL grand final. He was not the only notable Collingwood figure to die that month: legendary coach Jock McHale had died twenty-two days earlier.
Frank Brennan's son, the author Niall Brennan, gave a favourable portrayal of Wren in his 1971 biography, John Wren: Gambler. Hugh Buggy's The Real John Wren (1977), with a Foreword by Arthur Calwell, Federal Parliamentary Labor Party Deputy Leader, was also very favourable. A more balanced account was given by Chris McConville's article in Labour History, "John Wren: Machine Boss" (1981). John Wren: A Life Reconsidered by James Griffin (2004) presented an essentially positive view of Wren's life and career.
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