(Trinidad Express) Keith Martin, the man known to Trinidad and Tobago as “Jumbo, the nuts man” has died.
His passing is being widely mourned by those who remembered him at events across the island.
In 2019, after an outcry from cricket fans, local nuts vendors, including Jumbo, were allowed to continue selling nuts at the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T20 cricket tournament at the Queen’s Park Oval.
Cricket supporters became outraged over the weekend after learning that Martin, who has been selling nuts at the Oval for decades, was longer being allowed to do so for the CPL games.
In a Facebook video, an irate Martin expressed disappointment at the decision.
“This is Jumbo the original nuts man. I have been selling nuts at the Oval since 1971 when (Sunil) Gavaskar made 200 runs, back–to-back, and beat the West Indies. I’ve been selling at CPL for the first four years. They telling me that Sunshine Snacks, who is not 40 years…they telling me I can’t sell nuts. Trinidad allyuh take that, and allyuh want jumbo nuts?”
In July 2023, when legendary batsmen, Sunil Gavaskar, was honoured by the Queen’s Park Cricket Club with a plaque presented by the president of QPCC Dr Nigel Camacho, Jumbo the nuts-man, got the attention of Gavaskar, who went over to have a chat in front of the famous Carib stand.
Not only did Jumbo relay his admiration for the great man but he also serenaded him with the words of the “Gavaskar calypso” sung by Lord Relator, “Gavaskar, the rel master, just like ah wall, we couldn’t out Gavaskar at all” which brought a big smile to face of the Indian great.”
