National Hero, the Right Excellent Sir Garfield Sobers (centre), regaling members of the New Zealand delegation and Barbados Cricket Association’s First Vice President, Deighton Smith, with stories of his glory at the feet of his likeness.
Governor General of New Zealand, Dame Patsy Reddy (centre), and her husband, Sir David Gascoigne, speaking with Windies Under-19 stars Chermar Holder and Shamar Springer.
New Zealand GG takes in Kensington Oval
Tales of an old rivalry were relived yesterday at Kensington Oval when the Governor General of New Zealand, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Dame Patsy Reddy, took in a tour of the ‘mecca’. With the historic venue as one of the stops on her official visit to the island, Dame Patsy was taken through many of the trials and triumphs faced over the years by the island’s only living national hero, Sir Garfield Sobers.
Accompanied by her husband Sir David Gascoigne, New Zealand Ambassador to Barbados Jan Henderson and other High Commission officials, Dame Patsy and her delegation were led throughout the stadium after being introduced to members of the Barbados Cricket Association Board. During a short meeting with the Board, Dame Patsy said that it was good to visit Kensington as it was a household name in New Zealand.
“We all know it is the home of West Indies cricket and we know that there are some great names ... and some great games [that have] played here.”
Going on to say that New Zealand and the West Indies had a long cricketing history, which got off the ground with the first West Indies tour of New Zealand in 1951, Dame Patsy said that the relationship was a fulfilling one as it allowed for many opportunities.
“Our most recent tour here was in 2014 and it was fortunately and coincidentally the year we opened our new High Commission, and our captain Brendon McCullum was here and he said that it was a highlight for him to come and meet an icon of his youth, Joel Garner. Well it is serendipitous perhaps, but it is for me a highlight to meet an icon of my youth, Sir Garfield Sobers,” she said.
Noting that New Zealand and Barbados were both small countries that produced internationally-recognised cricketers such as Sir Richard Hadlee and Sir Garfield Sobers, Dame Patsy went on to say that sport continues to be one of the greatest catalysts for social and economic development and that her country was pleased to pledge assistance to Barbados.
“These cricket connections really are part of the people-to-people links that make up the very warm bilateral relationship between New Zealand and Barbados. Sports Diplomacy is a focus for our High Commission and we are very keen to encourage the development and assist you with supporting women and junior players alongside the traditional means. It’s an important role that sport can play in developing a strong and vibrant community,” Dame Patsy said. (MP)