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(Part 47.) When Guyana hailed its conquering hero
It has taken the imminent occasion of the 50th anniversary of the West Indies victory over Australia in the 1975 World Cup final at Lord’s for the game’s regional administration to finally recognise that historic triumph in a manner deserving of the status of the achievement.
Come Sunday in Barbados, ahead of the start of the three-Test series between the West Indies and Australia at Kensington Oval on 25 June, the 12 surviving members of that 1975 World Cup squad—fast bowling all-rounder Keith Boyce passed away in 1996, followed by opening batsman Roy Fredericks four years later—will be honoured as part of the annual Cricket West Indies/ West Indies Players Association Awards Gala.
Over the years, several players from that successful squad have lamented the absence of any proper recognition at regional level, although it is fair to say that one or two individual territories did not let the opportunity go by to celebrate their conquering heroes.
Photo: CWI Media.
One of those was Guyana. And, with four days to go to the actual golden anniversary day of 21 June, we recount the festivities that marked the return of West Indies captain Clive Lloyd to his homeland almost a month after the final. He could not return earlier due to commitments with his English county Lancashire in the days and weeks immediately following the final.
Legendary West Indies cricket journalist and broadcaster Tony Cozier reported on the celebrations in Guyana in his commemorative brochure World Cup Champions ‘75:
West Indies captain Clive Lloyd returned to his native Guyana in triumph July 19 and got one of the country’s highest awards: the Golden Arrow of Achievement.
Copyright: Popperfoto/ Getty Images.
He was driven through the streets in a gleaming Cadillac like a conquering hero, taken to meet Prime Minister Forbes Burnham and then, in bright afternoon sunlight before thousands of fans, received the honour from Acting President Edward Victor Luckhoo.
The public adulation and government recognition was Guyana’s reward to Lloyd for leading the West Indies to victory in the World Cup tournament. Wherever he went, he held high the 18-inch tall Prudential Cup, gleaming in the Caribbean sunshine.
At the open-air investiture at the packed National Park in north Georgetown, Acting President Luckhoo, who is also chancellor of the Orders of Guyana, said that Lloyd, by his brilliant captaincy and performances, had written valuable pages into the annals of cricket.
(Courtesy Guyana Graphic.)
“We are proud this afternoon and we exult and rejoice,” the Acting President enthused at the ceremony, carried live by radio. “You are a great sportsman and a fine captain. You have done much for the credit and prestige of our dear land of Guyana.”
Of Lloyd’s century in the final against Australia, the Acting President declared: “You swept the course of a fine game to exhilarating heights in one of the greatest exhibitions of classically aggressive batting ever seen at Lord’s.”
Luckhoo extended his tribute to Guyanese team members Rohan Kanhai, Roy Fredericks and “the evergreen Lance Gibbs” and said the whole team was one of extraordinary calibre.
(via Cricket World.)
Earlier in the day, Lloyd flew in to the biggest airport welcome seen at Timehri International Airport in recent times. Observers said it outdid those accorded six heads of state of government who came on official visits to Guyana in recent months.
Steelbands throbbed, masqueraders flounced to the beat of African drums and fife and modern stringed instruments and pop singers added to the musical feast for the cricketing star.
On hand at the airport was Deputy Prime Minister Dr Ptolemy Reid and Information and Sports Minister, Miss Shirley Field-Ridley.
Photo: PA Photos.
Lloyd, along with Fredericks and Gibbs, toured the country areas showing off the Cup in a helicopter. Everywhere they went, there was an enthusiastic response.
After his brief visit to Guyana, possible since he had to go to Barbados earlier to select the West Indies team for Australia later in the year, Lloyd stopped off in Trinidad where he was honoured at a reception given by the West Indies Cricket Board of Control.
Because of his commitments with his county, Lancashire, he had to fly back to Manchester after spending only four days in the West Indies.
Photo: CWI.
Cozier also reported that the Council of Ministers of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) agreed on a special stamp to be issued throughout the Community to commemorate the West Indies’ success in the World Cup:
The decision was taken at the Council’s meeting in Jamaica in early July. The communique issued after the meeting stated:
“Council noted the outstanding achievement of the West Indian cricket team in winning the first-ever World Cup cricket series.
Photo: PA Photos/ Getty Images.
“It considered this achievement to be a symbol of the unity of the region and an indication of the potential of regional co-operation as a vehicle for projection of the region internationally.
“It agreed that there should be a special commemorative stamp issued throughout the Caribbean Community in recognition of this outstanding achievement.”
Cozier’s comprehensive coverage of the tournament in the brochure also highlights what he describes as a “unique and ambitious project to bring continuous, ball-by-ball description direct from England to listeners” throughout the region—a project undertaken by the Caribbean Broadcasting Union with co-operation from the BBC.
(via Caribbean Beat.)
This series previously highlighted the roles of Cozier, Joseph ‘Reds’ Perreira and Jeff Charles in relaying those commentaries on all five West Indies matches at the World Cup, which was facilitated via wireless link carried from London to Barbados through the facilities of Cable and Wireless (West Indies) Limited.
Cozier continues:
Without such a venture, West Indian listeners would have been unable to follow the fortunes of their team on a ball-by-ball basis. Although BBC World Service did bring a special World Cup service, this, necessarily, skipped from match to match in the preliminary rounds and the semi-finals.
“We were extremely pleased that we were able to bring such a service to our listeners,” Mr Hugh Cholmondeley, director-general of the CBU, said. “The quality of the reception was outstanding and the interest throughout extremely high.”
Mr Cholmondeley said it was hoped that CBU would be able to mount similar operations in future for series in which the West Indies are engaged.
Next: West Indies face New Zealand in the semi-finals.
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Fazeer Mohammed is a journalist/broadcaster with almost 40 years’ experience across a range of media.
His interest in cricket, and particularly its history, started at home via his father’s small collection of autobiographies and magazines, offering perspectives and context which have informed his commentary and analysis on contemporary issues in the game.
