As a young boy growing up, memories of my first Test matches seen at the Queen's Park Oval were against India in 1971, with Joey Carew (fourth Test) and Charlie Davis (first and fourth) from Trinidad representing the West Indies. Naturally, as I got older and involved in cricket and became a member of the Queen's Park Cricket Club, actually getting to meet Carew was a huge deal for me. Little did I know that one day I would actually become friends with this legend of T&T cricket. One of my finer pleasures in life over the last 15 years was talking cricket with Joey, which we did often. When he came to see me professionally, the appointment would be one hour: ten minutes to deal with the problem at hand, 50 minutes to talk cricket. He was deeply passionate and very knowledgeable about every facet of the game of cricket. The West Indies demise affected Joey tremendously.
What I enjoyed most of all were discussions on the selection of the West Indies team when he was a selector for the WICB. His insight and opinions were priceless. Even if my opinion was useless, Joey mad me feel otherwise. In 1996 it was under his tenure as general manager of the Queen's Park Cricket Club that the Trini Posse got its first break at the Oval. To celebrate the centenary of the QPCC, the club brought in the Sri Lankan cricket team for two friendly ODIs. Joey called me to his office as he had heard about our Trini Posse trips to Barbados to watch Test cricket and asked me if we wanted to host a Trini Posse stand here at the Oval for these games. Obviously, we obliged in the old triple-decker Republic Stand and the rest is history. Joey also went to Fatima College, my alma mater, at the same time as my father, and dad would relay to me the legendary stories of Joey Carew and Alvin Corneal and their magnificent sporting prowess and extracurricular activities while at school.
What was even more magnificent and fascinating was the influence Joey had on a young boy from Santa Cruz, namely Brian Lara. Like an adopted son and brother to Michael Jnr and David, Brian went to Fatima, living with his second family in Woodbrook. He honed his God-given skills under the mentorship of his adopted father Joey to become a world beater, and one of the greatest batsmen ever to play the game.
Joey Carew was a legend at the Queen's Park Cricket Club where he spent most of his life; the void he leaves is irreplaceable. Joey was the ultimate Parkite; his contribution to QPCC is immeasurable. His stint as a member of the club's management committee for some 40 years speaks volumes about his commitment to this his own second home. To Marion, his wonderful wife and best opening partner ever, Michael Jnr, David and Brian, we thank you for sharing Joey with us and helping make him what he was. We share in your grief and great loss. Memories of Michael Joey Carew will live on forever here in T&T, especially at the world famous Queen's Park Cricket Club.
Dr Nigel Camacho
St Ann's