There are those who see you on a Monday morning and often ask, either out of politeness or sheer curiosity, how was your weekend? I can truly say for me that last weekend was absolutely wonderful.
It kicked off on Friday with lunch with 2 super legends of West Indies cricket - Sir Garry Sobers and Sir Wesley Hall. It ended on Sunday again with having lunch with the two gentlemen. What an experience it was listening to their many stories when they were at the pinnacle of world cricket. As they said, they didn't make much money, but boy did they enjoy themselves at the same time having fun and most importantly winning.
On Friday night it was the Queen's Park Cricket Club (QPCC) annual dinner in which the Prime Minister of Barbados - The Honourable Mia Mottley - gave the feature address. It was the first time I had the privilege to witness her speaking to a live audience and her speech was remarkable. Her theme revolved around Caribbean integration and she spoke for roughly 30 minutes without a note or anything to remind her of what should be said. She was scintillating and had the entire audience spellbound.
On Saturday night, it was time for the Past Cricketers Society of T&T (PCSTT) to host their 3rd annual “Cricketers can cook” event in the century ballroom of the Oval. The event is traditionally held outdoors but due to QPCC's annual football tournament, it was shifted to the ballroom. The PCSTT is a non-profit organisation which was formed some six years ago to assist several past national and international players in many areas including medical care.
The time is also used to recognise and award persons who have contributed significantly to the sport of cricket.
The society has gone well above and beyond what they were initially set up to do. They assisted the hurricane relief fund in the region and this year contributed to the disaster relief T20 committee for the flood victims.
What started off as a reunion amongst friends who had not seen each other for years, has blossomed into an organisation that is desirous of ensuring the lives of past cricketers are a little more comfortable in one way or another. Since its inception, some 48 persons have received awards from the PCSTT. These awards also include administrators, umpires and over the last two years, the Secondary Schools league and many national youth players have benefitted from the generosity of the PCSTT. This year, Sir Garry Sobers was honoured for his outstanding service to West Indies and T&T's cricket. Sir Garry coached here in T&T and played some club cricket but just how do you possibly honour a man who has done it all on the cricket field? Making his test debut at 17 and then breaking the record for the highest individual Test score at 21; then being the first player to hit six consecutive sixes in an over.
Other awardees included former test opener Bryan Davis who played for the West Indies when Sobers was captain. Administratively, he managed the T&T team and was also chairman of selectors and for many years created the winning formula for his club Queens Park.
For the first time, a woman was included in the list. Louise Browne was the first Trinidadian to lead the West Indies in a test and in fact, formed the Merry girls Cricket club. Today, she can look back proudly as being a pioneer for women's cricket. All of the ridicule she took in the early days when women cricketers practised in the savannah and were told by passing, sexist men to go home and cook, or wash clothes, made the sacrifice more than worth it.
Richard Gabriel who played for T&T as a fearless schoolboy; Narine Ragoo, the stalwart who played for T&T and captained Wanderers Cricket Club for many years; Noel Robinson who also represented T&T and managed our team that won the Shell shield under the late Ranjie Nanan, and the lone Tobagonian Garnet Gilman who played one game for T&T against the touring English team were the other persons to be given awards on the night.
The ballroom was littered with former international, national and club cricketers. The food was in abundance and the drink seemed inconsequential but the biggest takeaway was former players who rekindled memories with persons whom they would not have seen in some cases for over 40 years.
The presence of Sir Wesley Winfield Hall added to the evening. Hall coached here in T&T and played club cricket and in his own words, played more club cricket in Trinidad than in Barbados. He could be seen spending a lot of time with some of the players he mentored like Gabriel and Bernard Julien who was unfairly being dubbed as the next Sobers when he broke onto the national scene.
The PCSTT should indeed be proud of their work and what they are doing to assist former players at all levels. The “Cricketers can cook” is their major fundraiser but based on the success of this event, I am certain they will have more yearly events to keep the fraternity together.
There are many sponsors and individuals (too numerous to mention) that assist the PCSTT. However, a special mention should be made of Sobers Sports of Tobago who donated cricketing kits to 2 national youth players; a great gesture indeed.
Well done Past Cricketers Society of T&T for a wonderful evening. Keep up the good work!