Sir Everton Weekes: A Tribute

To mark the nearing of the first #raisethebat Test between England and West Indies at the home of Hampshire Cricket, our historian Dave Allen has been charting memorable meetings between Hampshire and the West Indies in tour matches and here pays tribute to West Indian great, Sir Everton Weekes, after his sad passing

If you are following my contributions here you will have seen yesterday the story of Hampshire’s match against the 1950 West Indians when, just days after their first Test victory in England they came to Southampton, where Roy Marshall scored a century against his future employers, and Everton Weekes hit 246*.

That was and remains the highest score ever made against Hampshire by any touring batsman, and typical of a man whose Test Match average of 58.61 places him 10th in the list of all-time great players, with 15 Test centuries.

I have a personal reason for being saddened by the news that he died. In 1994 I was in Barbados for the Test Match and on the first night, my pal and fellow Hampshire member, Mike Peaker, and I went to one of those tiny front-room bars where the beer is cheaper and life potentially more interesting. The woman who served us asked whether we were there for the cricket and pointed to one of three older men playing dominoes; “he knows about cricket”.

We waited for their game to end and he called us over, asking where we were from and replying “I know Hampshire”. I quizzed him, not realising initially that with a sparkle in his eye, he was toying with me, as he had done with our attack 44 years earlier. “Did you watch cricket there?” – “You Played? Where”; “At the county ground?” – “Was this a first-class match?”

Slowly it dawned on me that he had played in that famous game in 1950 but since I had not yet celebrated my first birthday by then I wasn’t quick to recognise him. Finally he revealed himself, Everton Weekes – after which I think he was somewhat surprised, and pleased, that I knew so much about his innings. He was quite delightful, and even with England (including our Robin) winning the match, I think it remains my favourite memory of a wonderful fortnight. R.I.P. Sir Everton and thank you.