The Government of Dominica will accord an official funeral to the former Dominican, Windward Islands, Combined Island West Indies Test Cricketer, Irving Shillingford, who passed away last week Thursday.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit made the announcement during a press conference on Monday.
“This morning I spoke with his widow, Mrs. Elizabeth Shillingford and I informed her of a decision by the government to accord the late Irving Shillingford an official funeral,” Skerrit said.
He continued, “The government and the people of Dominica recognize his exceptional contribution to the development of cricket in Dominica, his many years spent promoting the sport through his involvement in and leadership of the Cavaliers Cricket Club, and his years of service as a national selector.”
He explained further that the official funeral is an expression of the high honour and esteem in which the late Irving Shillingford is held by the government and the people of Dominica.
Skerrit went on to explain why the decision to accord an official funeral for the late Irving Shillingford is special.
“Just to let the public know how this decision by the government is special, there is an existing policy which only accords official funerals to former members of parliament and so the government is making a derogation here…,” he explained.
He said the details of the official funeral will be made known to the public at a later date.
The Prime Minister described the late Shillingford as a Dominican hero, a pioneer who excelled in the sport of cricket and represented the aspiration of many Dominican cricketers who hoped to make the West Indies cricket team.
“Shillingford made his test debut at age 32 against Pakistan in March 1977 scoring 120 in his second march in Guyana,” Skerrit stated. “He played 4 tests and 2 ODI’s for the West Indies and scored 5,449 runs in 92 first-class matches.”
Skerrit went on to state that Shillingford holds the distinction as the only Dominican cricketer to have scored a test century.
“Many of us still remember the joy he brought to the Dominican people through his accomplishments in the sport and his prowess on the field,” he stated.
Born in Dublanc, Dominica on April 18, 1944, Shillingford began his cricket career in his early teens.
Shillingford also played 88 first-class games, 49 of them for the Combined Islands whom he represented from the inception of the team in 1961 until its dissolution in 1981. He also played first-class cricket for the Windward Islands.
He died at the age of 78.
National Sporting Hero. Had the pleasure of growing up with his children. Is there still a stand name after Mr. Shillingford in the Windor Park? I know there was one in the old Windsor Park.