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Lorna Parris (nee Belgrave) was born at Lodge Road, Christ Church, Barbados, on August 31, 1937 to the proud parents of Colin Bynoe (a School Teacher and Preacher) and Isalene Belgrave, ironically their first child.
The Christian background of her parents ensured Lorna was brought up in a household with strict religious principles enshrined in her life. These principles were subsequently passed on to her siblings.
At an early age, despite the strict Christian and moral behaviour expected of her, Lorna showed signs of a fun loving, jovial person, at ease interacting with people and for reasons unknown to herself she somehow managed to correlate her two personalities without loosing any respect from her peers. Lorna often reminisce jokingly about those times and wondered how she was able to pull it off.
Lorna was eulogised by her eldest son, Ian Belgrave who spoke passionately about the love his mum had for her children, and more significantly one of her early and most fervent hobbies which was her penchant for cooking, and at every available opportunity she tend to display her culinary skills and ambition which later in life became her hallmark.
Lorna migrated to England in early 1965, met Michael Parris in 1967 and was married in 1970. This partnership produced one sibling, Ricardo “Ricky” Parris who was born in 1967.
Immediately after Lorna’s arrival in England she pursued her ambition and joined the staff at London Transport in the catering department.
After leaving London Transport with the acquired knowledge and experience in her chosen profession, she then joined the National Health Service (NHS) working at a number of hospitals, including Northwick Park, Wembley General and finally at Willesden General in the capacity as Chief Cook until failing health took its toll on her.
While at Willesden General Hospital, Lorna conceptualised, pioneered and popularised the “Sunday School” event, which was held in the Recreational Hall at the hospital. This event started around the beginning of the ‘80’s (1980) and took place every Sunday afternoon with the playing of games (dominoes, etc), then climaxed into a ‘disco’ late in the evening. Of course there was always an array of exotic dishes available, also drinks. The Sunday event went from strength to strength in a very short space of time and attracted large crowds from across London and as far a field as Birmingham.
It is noteworthy to mention, that Lorna’s illness forced her to abandon the staging of the Sunday school event, and this left a void in one’s Sunday activities. However in recent times other individuals, groups and organisations alike has seized the opportunity to come on board and continued where Lorna has left off. It is even more pertinent to mention these “quasi” Sunday school events do not share the same concept as was the case with Lorna’s, nonetheless there are countless events held every Sunday across London under the same guise. There is no doubt Lorna’s legacy remain intact.
Throughout Lorna’s active life, she was always kept very busy and in demand to cater for various parties, weddings, organisations, etc, this she did with utmost care, delight and above all with a high degree of professionalism.
Unfortunately Lorna’s relatively short illness resulted in her immobility and dependency, however she was fortunate to be well cared for and looked after by her loving devoted and dedicated long time friend of over 25 years, Keith “Twiggy” Hall who was always there for her.
Lorna Parris passed away peacefully on April 20, 2004, and after a service of thanksgiving at an overcrowded St Michael the Archangel Church, St Michael’s Avenue, Wembley, was laid to rest at Willesden New Cemetery, Franklyn Road, NW10 on May 4, 2004.
An estimated crowd in excess of 1000 people attended the service.
Lorna leaves to mourn her two children: Ian Belgrave and Ricardo “Ricky” Parris, 2 grandchildren and 4 sisters.
C.K.
SYLVESTER THEOPHILUS CLARKE - LEST WE FORGET
He was born on December 11, 1954, at Lead Vale, Christ Church, Barbados, and Christened Sylvester Theophilus Clarke. He passed away at his home in Christ Church around 1pm on Saturday, December 4 1999, at age 44 (7 days before his 45th birthday) and laid to rest at St Patrick’s Church in the same parish.
“Syllie” as he later became affectionately know to his friends, grew up in the parish of Christ Church along with long time friend and former West Indies professional, Collis King and Ezra Moseley, another former West Indies player. At an early age Syllie developed a love for cricket and his preference for bowling fast. Sylvester came through the ranks of the Barbados Cricket League (BCL), the grassroots of Barbados cricket, and through this league he honed his skills as a young fast bowler playing among more senior and experienced players, always listening and taking in the advice passed on to him. It wasn’t long before Syllie became one of the feared fast bowlers on the BCL circuit because of his pace and steep bounce which opposing teams found extremely difficult to handle.
After performing impressively in the league Sylvester was selected to play for Barbados against the Combined Islands in1978, he performed creditably with a return of 21 wickets in his debut season, including his first first-class hat-trick against Trinidad. Not surprisingly, he was drafted into the West Indies team and made his debut in the 3rd Test against Australia in Guyana. Although Australia won the game, Sylvester captured 3 wickets in each innings with match figures of 6/141.
Sylvester Clarke was introduced to league cricket in England by Tyrone “Baba” Knight, a former Barbados stalwart and fellow member of the BCL team. It was during this period that Syllie was approached by Surrey CC and offered a contract in 1979. In 1980 he was awarded his county cap.
Sylvester represented Surrey CC with distinction for nine years (1979-1988 - statistics below) and gained a reputation as the most clinically fearsome of all the fast bowlers who played for Surrey up to that time. Because of his physique he was able to generate frightening pace and steep bounce from a relatively short run-up, and more significantly he utilised his ability with telling effect.
During Sylvester’s nine year stint at Surrey, he captured 591 wickets at a respectably economical rate of 18.99 each, which demonstrates the invaluable contribution he made for his adopted county. Syllie was no slouch with the bat either, in 1980 he scored his only first-class century, and unbeaten 100 for Surrey against Glamorgan in just over an hour. He was awarded the “Walter Laurence Trophy” for scoring the quickest century for the season.
I met Sylvester Clarke during his halcyon days at Surrey CC, we became quite close friends, and we discussed our views and shared personal experiences.
During the 1980’s a cricket team of which I was involved, made annual visits to Barbados playing against the local teams and Syllie along with fellow professionals, Roderick Estwick (his brother), Franklyn Stephenson, Neil Phillips and Ezra Moseley were regulars in the team. These tours always took place between October/November and coincided with the start of the South African domestic cricket season. During this period Sylvester was engaged at Transvaal. Syllie loved playing with the guys, he often delayed his departure and arrives late in South Africa just to take in a few games, suffice to say he was berated on a few occasions for this infraction.
Sylvester Clarke was an affable, generous person, one who never forgot the common touch, however despite his professional status he kept both feet firmly on the ground.
Like most professionals, Syllie has had his share of run-ins with officials and administrators alike but after listening to Sylvester’s version, one can only conclude the action taken by him in most of these instances was justified.
I had the pleasure of being a guest along with Syllie on a sports programme hosted by Erskine King on Voice of Barbados (VOB). Before we went on air, Erskine asked Sylvester if he didn’t mind talking about his involvement in an unfortunate incident which occurred in the final test in Pakistan which resulted in a two match suspension. He declined the offer but spoke to us in confidence. After hearing Sylvester’s version of what actually transpired, it has left us somewhat puzzled bearing in mind the different versions that have been published. Whatever reasons Syllie had for not going public will always remain with him. ENOUGH SAID ON THAT SUBJECT.
When one think of Sylvester Clarke and his humility to his fellow man, it is only fitting to mention or highlight another trait of this affable character. While Sylvester graced the cricket grounds of the world, earned international stardom, revered wherever he went, no one can accuse him of turning his back on those who helped him reach the heights he achieved, suffice to say he always remained loyal to the BCL, helped them propel to excellence and was never interested in playing for any of the other more prestigious clubs in Barbados. Sylvester Clarke’s stance can only be described as truly remarkable.
Sylvester has spoken in glowing terms about Owen (Nobby) Estwick (a long serving President with the BCL and now 2nd Vice President of the Barbados Cricket Association), he told me “he owes Nobby for everything he has achieved professionally, and thank him for being always there for him”.
After Syllie retired from professional cricket he continued to play for his beloved Crusaders CC in the BCL Super League Division in the district where he grew up.
One of the divisions within the Barbados Cricket League (BCL) is named after this son-of-the-soil (Sylvester Clarke Division).
Sylvester Theophilus Clarke passed away at his Christ Church home in Barbados, on Saturday, December 4, 1999. He is buried at St Patrick’s Church, ironically a short distance away from his beloved Crusaders CC.
Micky Stewart of Surrey CC paid a glowing tribute to an “exceptional sportsman and friend”. Owen Estwick read the eulogy. Among the pall-bearers were his brother, Roderick Estwick (former Barbados and West Indies “A” team player) and long time friend Collis King.
The Good That Men Do Lives After Them - LEST WE FORGET SYLVESTER THEOPHILUS CLARKE
C Kennedy
Batting and Fielding For Each Team by
Sylvester Clarke
Team Matches Inns Not Out Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St
Barbados 13 9 2 30 12 4.28 0 0 2
Surrey 160 96 25 876 45* 12.33 0 0 46
Bowling For Each Team by Sylvester Clarke
Team Balls Mdns Runs Wkts BB Ave 4wI 5wI SRate Econ
Barbados 639 17 343 17 3-19 20.17 0 0 37.58 3.22
Surrey 7981 201 4398 212 5-23 20.74 8 2 37.64 3.30
First-class Batting and Fielding For Each Team by Sylvester Clarke
Team Matches Inns Not Out Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St
Barbados 20 22 6 204 36 12.75 0 0 14
Surrey 152 155 18 2130 100* 15.54 1 3 98
First-class Bowling For Each Team by
Sylvester Clarke
Team Balls Mdns Runs Wkts BB Ave 5wI 10wM
Barbados 3779 129 1898 68 6-39 27.91 1 1
Surrey 26783 1180 11226 591 8-62 18.99 37 6
Sylvester Clarke
West Indies
Full name: Sylvester Theophilus Clarke
Born: December 11, 1954, Lead Vale, Christ Church, Barbados
Died: December 4, 1999, Christ Church, Barbados (aged 44 years 358 days)
Major teams: West Indies, Barbados, Northern Transvaal, Orange Free State, Surrey, Transvaal
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Bowling style: Right-arm fast
Batting and fielding averages
class mat inns no runs hs ave bf sr 100 50 4s 6s ct st
Tests 11 16 5 172 35* 15.63 0 0 8 2 0
ODIs 10 8 2 60 20 10.00 58 103.44 0 0 3 3 4 0
First-class 238 265 44 3269 100* 14.79 1 5 146 0
List A 251 147 31 1294 45* 11.15 0 0 66 0
Test debut West Indies v Australia at Georgetown - Mar 31-Apr 5, 1978 scorecard
Last Test Australia v West Indies at Sydney - Jan 2-6, 1982 scorecard
ODI debut West Indies v Australia at Castries - Apr 12, 1978 scorecard
Last ODI Australia v West Indies at Sydney - Jan 27, 1982 scorecard
First-class span 1977/78 - 1989/90
List A span 1977/78 - 1989/90
Below are Two Edited Versions.
Barbados, an island where cricket is more a way of life than a game, was already in a state of shock from the successive deaths of two of its finest players, Malcolm Marshall and Sir Conrad Hunte, when Sylvester Clarke collapsed and died at his home in Christ Church on December 4. He would have been 45 on December 11. Three weeks earlier, he had been one of the hundreds of cricketers saying their final goodbyes at Marshall's funeral. The day before, the startling news had been received of Hunte's passing. Clarke's wife, Peggy, reported he had complained of feeling unwell and had seen the doctor in the preceding week.
A strong, powerfully built fast bowler with a typically West Indian love of life and the game he made his profession, Clarke was restricted to 11 Tests by the simultaneous presence of Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, Joel Garner, Colin Croft and Malcolm Marshall and his decision to join the West Indian teams that broke the international boycott against the apartheid of South Africa in the mid-1980s.
Yet there was a host of players in England, where he spent nine productive seasons with Surrey between 1979 and 1988, who rate him as clinically fearsome as any of his contemporary West Indian colleagues. Those who played with and against him in South Africa, where he also represented Transvaal, Northern Transvaal and Orange Free State, speak in similar awe of his ability to generate frightening pace and steep lift from a relatively short run. His secret was his immense strength and a snappy, pliable wrist that he used with telling effect. Like so many Barbadian Test players, Clarke came through the ranks of the BCL. --- A return of 21 wickets in his debut season for Barbados in 1978 included a hat-trick against Trinidad and a summons to the West Indies team for the Third Test of the home series against Australia after those contracted to Kerry Packer's World Series Cricket - in other words most of the team - withdrew. In the absence of Roberts, Holding, Garner et al, he spearheaded the weakened attack on the subsequent tour of India where his 21 wickets in five Tests - including Sunil Gavaskar five times - made him the leading wicket-taker. His 5 for 126 at Bangalore remained his best Test figures. He toured Pakistan in 1980-81 when Holding was injured and Roberts rested, and Australia in 1981-82 when Marshall was getting over a back problem. But he saw little prospect of getting back on a permanent basis and joined others in a similar position on Lawrence Rowe's unauthorised and officially ostracised teams to South Africa in 1982-84. It was a venture that ended his cricket in the West Indies, for the players were all banned by the West Indies Cricket Board of Control.
While Clarke's Test record, spread over four years and four series, is unflattering with 42 wickets at an average of 27.85, the true measure of his effectiveness is better judged by his returns in England and South Africa. In the nine seasons he spent with Surrey (he missed 1985 with a back injury) Clarke gathered 591 wickets at the miserly rate of 18.99 runs each. His best year was 1982 when he took 85 wickets at just under 20 each and helped them to the Benson and Hedges Cup. In South Africa, his 193 wickets, at just over 20 each, included a new Currie Cup championship record haul of 58 wickets in 1985 at the astonishing average of 12.72 runs each. In his 238 first-class matches, he took 942 wickets at 19.52 runs each, including three hat-tricks - a statistic not matched by many others.
Barbadians and West Indians rarely saw him at his best. He played only one Test in the Caribbean, his first at Bourda, and had only 20 matches for Barbados (68 wickets at 27.91 each). Clarke had the uncompromising approach to batting typical of lower-order fast bowlers. He smashed an unbeaten 35 off 30 balls against Pakistan in the Second Test at Faisalabad in 1981 and his only first-class century, an even, unbeaten 100 for Surrey against Glamorgan a few months later, took him just over an hour and was the quickest of the English season.
At the end of his professional career he returned home to Barbados where he continued to play in the BCL for his club, Crusaders, alongside his close friend and former Barbados and West Indies colleague, Collis King, until the time of his death
Three Bajans Who Helped Shape Modern South Africa Thinking
Port Elizabeth - Even in today's era of reconciliation it is difficult to mention the name of Sylvester Clarke without some disapproving curl of the lip at how the big Bajan was merely a "mercenary at heart".
Which may be true for those who opposed the rebel tours of the 1980s when the tearaway fast bowler sowed seeds of fear among most South African batsmen and pitches were deliberately prepared to suit his style of bowling.
As the third Bajan to die within a matter of five weeks, the terrible news of his sudden passing has shocked as many in South Africa as it has in that lovely, warm and island in the sun whose people are as gentle and as effusive as you would expect in the Caribbean.
Yet, in their own distinctive manner and through their special skills, Malcolm Marshall, Sir Conrad Hunte and Clarke, or Sylvers as he was known, played a major role in helping shape the modern game in South Africa.
Clarke showed that despite his aggressive, hostile image where he would enjoy nothing more than pin a batsman, as well as take his wicket, he was gentle and thoughtful off of the field; passing on his knowledge to young would-be hopefuls inspired by his bowling technique.
His efforts for Transvaal (now Gauteng), Free State and Northerns during a period of eight years are well documented.
There was always the feeling he was disappointed with his treatment in South Africa by provincial officials. It was, after all, the mercenary image which they saw, not the man behind it. A pity as he was genuinely sincere about the "human side" of his relationships with South Africans.
LORNA PARRIS
Sunrise: August 31, 1937
Sunset: April 20, 2004
Farewell Lorna, Your Legacy Remain Intact
Sylvester Theophilus Clarke
Sunrise December 11, 1954 Sunset December 4, 1999
Remembering You Always
Keith Lionel Mapp entered peacefully into eternal rest at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (Q.E.H), Barbados on Thursday, 29 June, 2006.
After a service of thanksgiving before a packed to overflowing Holy Cross Anglican Church, St John, Keith was laid to rest in the nearby Churchyard.
Keith was born and educated in the same parish; he also became a devout member at Holy Cross. As a young man growing up in the area he represented the local cricket team, Sussex CC in the Barbados Cricket League (BCL) with distinction. At an early age Keith quickly established himself in the team as a dependable opening batsman and soon became a prolific scorer. Throughout the league (BCL), word soon got around about “this guy” playing for Sussex CC; suffice to say he soon became the prized wicket opposing teams targeted. Unfortunately for them Keith’s game got better and better as he quickly became their “nemesis”.
Keith got married in 1958 to his childhood sweetheart Sylvia and started a family, but with the social status in Barbados being what it was at that time, he decided to immigrate to England.
Word soon got around that Keith had arrived in London and it was no surprise when he was invited to join the now defunct Caribbean CC, a very strong West Indian Team of that era. Keith continued to be a prolific scorer for Caribbean throughout his tenure with the club and made many friends. Some of the members included; Sam Hinds, Paul Maloney, Rex Legal, Sir David Simmons (who played during his student years in London) and Roy Gollop, just to mention a few, he also hold a record for the club by being the only player to score a century before lunch.
After joining the workforce at Heinz 57, Keith found travelling every weekend to represent Caribbean CC, who rarely played any of their games in London too much, and instead opted to play for his works team (Heinz CC) which had excellent facilities. Keith was soon joined by Paul Maloney, Rex Legal, Carl McGeary and Rawle Pinder who quickly turned the Heinz X1 into a formidable cricket team.
Keith was very competitive and took his cricket extremely serious, in fact it is said even when he played with his children at home, be it at cards, dominoes or any game, he did not like to loose.
I didn’t have the pleasure to play with Keith on many occasions but I can attest to his competitive edge. I remember quite vividly batting with Keith on a relatively small ground at Wembley Park, Keith stroked the ball to the farthest corner of the ground and took off, after struggling through for 3 runs, I looked up to find Keith half way down the wicket to complete a fourth, I had no alternative but to take off for what I felt was a suicidal fourth run which I miraculously managed to complete with the help of a fielding error. When the bowler was running in to deliver his next ball I collapsed in a heap from exhaustion. While I was being sympathetically attended by some of the players I could hear Keith shouting, “Look man if you can’t run my runs, I think you should send for a runner”. There was much laughter from everyone present who saw the funny side of it, I CERTAINLY DID NOT. That was Keith Mapp.
There is no doubt the name of Keith Lionel Mapp will be etched into the annals of local club cricket history, as a batsman he was pure genius and a joy to watch when he was in full flow. His legacy will live on.
It wasn’t long after Keith’s retirement from Heinz that he decided to fulfil his wishes and return to Barbados, which he did in 1995.
While in Barbados Keith reacquainted himself with the Holy Cross Church family and rarely missed Sunday Services, he also enjoyed his early morning walk along the highway until ill health took its toll on him. Keith never recovered and eventually succumbed to his ailment. He died peacefully in his sleep at the Q.E.H. on Thursday, 29 June, 2006, age 76 (6 days before his 77th birthday).
Keith was eulogised by his son Lavere, who spoke of the love he shared with his family.
Patrick Wilkie, a former club member and friend paid a tribute to Keith and spoke glowingly about this “exceptional cricketer who left everyone awe-struck with his exquisite stroke-play during his glory days at Caribbean CC”.
Keith leaves to mourn, his wife Sylvia, three daughters; June Mapp, Paulette Jude & Lorraine Allen, one son; Lavere Quintyne, six grandchildren; Shola Mapp, Akan Jude, Adanna & Anneka Jude, Alexia & Benjamin Quintyne.
Thanks for the memory Keith Lionel Mapp, you are gone but not forgotten. May you forever rest in peace.
C Kennedy.
