A wide cross-section of the Guyanese society paid glowing tribute to popular Pharmacist and ardent sports personality Sydney “Syd” Cummings who was cremated yesterday at Good Hope Crematorium following a church service at Bedford Methodist Church on North Road.
Cummings was the proprietor of Cummings Drug Store at Camp and North Streets and he also served as on the executive of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) and Captain of the Lusignan Golf Club.
In tributes at the church service officiated by Reverend Glenna Spencer, Vice President of the GBBC Andrew Thorne said Cummings, who died at the age of 91, served the board with distinction as a referee/judge and assistant secretary/treasurer.
As a judge he officiated in several notable bouts including the WBA vacant Latin American middleweight title between Anthony Andrews and Davis Mendez as well as a bout between two of Guyana’s distinguished pugilists former World champion Andrew “Sixhead” Lewis and Terrence Alli, who also fought for a world title, Thorne said.
President of the Lusignan Golf Club, Jerome Khan remembered Cummings as an active member of the club who never missed Guyana’s premier Guyana Open cocktails and prize-giving ceremonies and attended the event just a few months ago.
“Syd was a former Club captain who formed a very strong bond with the late Editor-in-Chief of Stabroek News David De Caires, businessmen Alvaro Seymour and John Livingstone, veteran attorney-at-law Rex McKay and Dr. John Ram Singh.
“He was jovial and was a livewire of the club over the years. Syd would also be remembered as a fierce competitor who always enjoyed a little wager among friends on the course,” Khan noted.
Cummings also represented Guyana at tournaments in the Caribbean including Trinidad and Tobago.
Three of the sons Roy, Bruce and Andre are members of the Lusignan Golf Club.
Cummings died on December 31 after a brief illness.
