On July 3, 2020, the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community paid tribute to Sir Everton Weekes who died on July 1, 2020, at the age of 95 years. Sir Everton was accorded a reverential one minute’s silence. He was a great Barbadian and Caribbean personality.
Three decades before our great West Indies Test cricket team was universally declared the World’s best, Sir Everton had achieved the status as the best batsman in the game. Twice voted by WISDEN in the 1950s ‘best batsman’ of the year, Sir Everton had reached the mountain top ahead of any West Indian player and team. But the critical significance of this achievement was that he took with him the team that had set out on a mission to reach the peak.
Between 1948 and 1950, he scored five consecutive Test centuries, one against England and four against India. This was a World Test record that remains today. These performances enabled the West Indies to defeat India and England at home — a seminal masterstroke with far-reaching efforts. Importantly, they also enabled the West Indies to challenge Australia in 1951 for the title of best Test team, a journey to the top that took twenty-three years of effort. He led us to the pinnacle, gave us confidence, and we never looked back. In 1953, he became holder of the record for most Test runs by a West Indian, an achievement that remained intact until broken by Sir Gary Sobers in 1966.
Rising from the ashes of colonialism, this phoenix flew to the highest altitude, setting standards and expectations, not only for future generations of cricketers — the Sobers-Kanhai, Lloyd-Richards, Lara-Chanderpaul-Gayle, and Holder eras but for all citizens in their respective endeavours.
We, therefore, celebrate this unique Caribbean and world cricket icon and give thanks for his contribution — the gift of the highest standard. May this gift continue to inspire and elevate all those within its reach.
The Caribbean Community extends sincerest condolences to the immediate family and friends of Sir Everton. Barbados and the Caribbean will always treasure this exemplar of our Caribbean civilisation.
While they honor Weekes, even mentioning Sobers; without the names Worrel and Walcott, the name Weekes alone is trivial.
Indeed he has his personal history; nevertheless, where it pertains to West Indies Cricket, without linking the three (3) “W’s” which are synonymous to West Indies Cricket one name without the other two; to many who knows West Indies cricket such a tribute is not very significant.
Worrel passed in the 70’s, not sure about Walcott
The spirits of our Ancestors continue to guide us in Re-Membering the Human and Social Suffering that existed among Africans the World over. White Europe and White America was in combat among themselves, The Caribbean a Subject of these Slave Owners, ended in Wars that they had no business in, during this very era, Africans at home and abroad started the march towards De-colonization, the Pan African Movement setting the Tone in that aspect. The Pride that engulfed our grand Parents then, is Writen in Stone. Mr Weekes’ exploits are really unsurpassed, together with his other SuperStar mates, put down markers, when the White World was made to believe that the African could not accomplish their so-called standards. it seems that some of our greatest Men/Women showed their Mettle in the Mid-1940′ and 50′, and Mr Weekes’ team was the Epitome. How different it is in the Present. Mr Loblack would have been the ideal to espouse on this. Mr Weekes, “Ah real Big Man”, will continue to…