Skeete honoured at LICA Centenary Gala Dinner!
In attendance at the gala was a wide cross section of people representing players, administrators, government officials from across the Leeward Islands, and from the business community.
During the evening’s event, Mr Gregory Shillingford, President of the Leeward Islands Cricket Association (LICA), announced that the night’s event signaled the start of the centennial year of celebrations for the organisation. The president also confirmed that a commemorative book has been commissioned to document for posterity, the rich history and developments surrounding the sport of cricket in the Leeward Islands. The book will comprise 10 chapters with each chapter capturing a decade of cricket history and accomplishments in the Leeward Islands.
Mr Shillingford also informed the gathering that the celebrations will continue in the other member territories during the year, and will culminate with a final gala which will bring down the curtain on the centennial year of celebrations.
Several persons were also recognized for their contributions to the growth and development of the sport in the Leeward Islands, including Theodore Skeete, who is a former president of the British Virgin Islands Cricket Association and former vice president of the Leeward Islands Cricket Association. Mr Skeete’s contribution to the game spans all of the British Virgin Islands, even to parts of the Leeward Islands. He was deeply passionate about the game and gave freely of his time, knowledge and expertise.
This process of honouring persons who have contributed significantly to the sport will continue as LICA moves to give just recognition to these individuals – many of whom are no longer alive. The honorees from Saturday include: Elquemedo Willett, the first cricketer from the Leeward Islands to gain selection to the West Indies team. Last month Mr. Willett celebrated the 40th anniversary of his selection to the West Indies team. Also receiving awards were: Anderson M. E. Roberts, the first Antiguan to gain selection to the West Indies team and Sir Vivian Richards, the second Antiguan to play for the West Indies team, and the only captain never to have lost a Test series.
Other awardees were: Pat Whyte, retired umpire, Jim Allen who many considered unlucky not to have gotten selection to the West Indies team, businessman Imran McSood, for his continued sponsorship of the Leeward Islands flagship competition, Basil Morgan another retired international umpire, Samuel “Sammy” Henry, the person who is credited for agitating and bringing about the eventual split between St. Kitts and Nevis, thereby allowing Nevis to compete as a separate entity in the Leeward Islands competitions.
Organised cricket in the Leeward Islands started in 1913, when the five (5) member Territories – Antigua, St. Kitts/Nevis, Anguilla, Montserrat and Dominica -- agreed to start playing amongst themselves for the Hesketh Bell Shield in honor of the Governor of the Leeward Islands at that time, Sir Hesketh Bell.
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