Dear Editor,
A few weeks ago a number of us were privileged to share a moment in history. The event was the celebration, after almost one hundred years, of the rediscovery of a ‘navel-string’.
The occasion was but one reflection of humility of a son of Guyana’s soil who in earlier years had basked in much deserved international fame, and who more recently had conceived and, executed over past months, a project set in simple and befitting domesticity – like a boundary flowing from an effortless straight drive.
The winning captain of two successive West Indies World Cup Cricket teams – had returned to his roots – the same as his forebears – and was now celebrating the completion of a modern two-apartment building erected on that ancestral foundation.
Clive Lloyd, after many migrant years, had come back to share with us a rededication of the place of his birth – a place he has shared with his illustrious cricketing cousin, Lance Gibbs.
As Ronald Austin, who moderated this most significant event, observed, we were all ensconced on ‘hallowed ground’ – a plot that had produced two of the most memorable achievers in the annals of West Indian cricket – the most outstanding captain and its greatest spin bowler.
The spiritual dimension of the moment was re-emphasized in the prayers and remarks of presiding Pastor Massiah. Yet one could hardly be more elevated than by the ensuing recital of the reflective (land) lord himself. Clive Lloyd called to mind what, in cricketing terms, must be the most historic (four block) street anywhere in the world – Crown Street between Irving Street which marks the eastern border of the famous DCC (Demerara Cricket Club) ground and Albert Street on the west – history located at least five West Indian cricketers. Cyril Christiani, his brother Robert; diagonally across at New Garden and Crown streets was the home of Roger Harper (whose brother Mark represented Guyana).
Then of course there were Clive and Lance in the block that continued west towards Oronoque Street – and on to Queenstown pasture – the home of many but less illustrious cricketers.
Incidentally, in addition to Mark Harper, two other Christiani brothers represented colonial Guiana – Ernest ‘Pemya’ and Harry, possibly two of the shortest brothers to play representative cricket for both British and independent Guyana, or anywhere else. It was just possible that even those departed spirits were roused to return, chafing at being uninvited guests.
Clive also did mention Colin Wiltshire who lived just beyond the boundary – west of Albert Street. But he also graduated from Queenstown pasture to represent the DCC and the country.
I was particularly glad to be there, if only at the periphery of the glory reflected by ‘the Crown’, for no one could guess that I too ‘bat and balled’ in Queenstown pasture in those early days.
Yours faithfully,
E. B. John
