On the face of it the reunion last Wednesday of Ireland team manager Roy Torrens, former Ireland captain and ICU president Alfie Linehan, and former NCU president and Sunday Life cricket correspondent Robin Walsh, with the legendary Sir Everton Weekes, was just another chapter in the Caribbean/Irish cricket connection that appears to get stronger and stronger every year.
The three doyens of Irish cricket were passing through Barbados while on a cruise holiday on the luxurious liner Queen Mary and relished the opportunity to play a round of golf with yours truly, and lunch with the darling of Barbados and West Indiespost-war cricket. Thankfully Mary, Joan and Dorothy are long-suffering cricket wives and fully appreciate the nostalgia of such an occasion, because sporting friendships truly transcend all boundaries, including distance and the passage of time. Sir Everton has just celebrated his 83rd. birthday in excellent health, testimony to a strict fitness routine and a positive approach to everything in life. Recently returned from an active role as one of the administrators of the highly successful Stanford Twenty20 competition inAntigua, he's very optimistic about the future of West Indiescricket and highly complimentary of the Texas billionaire's role in rejuvenating and developing the game across the Caribbean region. Little wonder big Roy sat in awe when Sir Everton spoke of the huge sums of money being pumped into the game at grass-roots level by cricket lover Sir Allen Stanford.
With Ireland fighting hard to fund the cost of its massive annual program it was an interesting insight into how the other half lives these days in modern cricket, and what huge sums are on offer for the top stars. Changed days for the veteran West Indian batsman who started life in humble beginnings within a few hundred yards of the famous Kensington Oval, and who rose to world stardom when the rewards were much more modest.
Sir Everton has fond memories of Ulster and the friends he has made over the years. His first visit was to Holywood in 1954 to play in a special match to celebrate the opening of the club's new pavilion. Of course his warmest memory is of his 1995 visit when Malcolm Brodie convened a small committee of well-wishers to host a special dinner to honour his knighthood. The late EDR Shearer gave a moving address in his honour, a night that Sir Everton fondly recalls with much affection, and of the hospitality at Chez-Walsh.
His most recent visit was last year when he proposed the toast to "North Down Cricket Club, 150 years not out" at the club's gala dinner in October to celebrate its sesquicentenary. The toasting on Wednesday past fell into the lap of veteran holiday toastmaster Alfie and it was simply "to friendship." How appropriate and what a way to spend a day in the sun and for your editor to enjoy the company of true friends and doyens of cricket.
And for those who want to know the result of the golf..... Torrens and Hiles won 4 and 3. According to big Roy fitness and youth was the deciding factor. The same could be said for Sir Everton, fit and 83 years young. An inspiration to all cricketers young and not so young. A lovely man and friend of many.
Clarence Hiles
Editor
Barbados
