SPBS, July 27th, 2018 -- Back in the day, 1973 to be exact, Nevisians especially were extremely proud when the 1st person from the “small islands” was called up to be a part of the West Indies team. Before then only players from the “big islands” were selected to the West Indies team. The person selected to the West Indies team was none other than Mr. Elquemedo Tonito Willett, MBE.
Elquemedo Tonito Willett MBE, known to many as “Elco” was born in Charlestown, Nevis to Florence Hendrickson of Hicksman Village, Gingerland and Paitfield “Harry” Willett of Government Road. Upon being born, his father gave him two exquisite christian names coined from his experiences living on and working in the sugarcane fields of the Dominican Republic in the 1930’s and 40’s. Willett was perhaps destined for greatness even then, for when broken down to their component parts, the names are revealing. “El que”, means “the one that”, and medo means “me too” or “me also”, and “the best boyfriend ever”, and the adding of “ito” to a given name in Spanish e.g Toni/Tonito meaning “Little Toni” is a Spanish way of showing affection. Toni was a plantation owner in Santo Domingo.
Willett was very athletic as a child, and had an obsession for cricket, playing in the street or on any other available space back in the mid to late 1950’s. He attended the Charlestown Boys School, and his teachers there recognized him as child prodigy for his cricketing prowess. After school, on weekends and during school holidays, he joined the other village boys at nearby Bocko Park, and even ventured with other boys to Ramsbury (just outside Charlestown) to challenge the boys there. There were mentors for sure. Mac Parris, the former Nevisian wicketkeeper/batsman, Clinton Willett (his cousin), Eugene Brown, many years his senior, former Nevisian opening batsman Earl “Jimmy Swing” Parris who gave him his first pair of cricket boots, and the allrounder, Ed Arthurton, Spartans captain and his first captain of Nevis, regarded by many as Nevis’ finest cricketing brain. After Sobers blazed his way to the world record 365 not out against Pakistan in Kingston, Jamaica in 1958, Willett idolized the new record holder, but in the 1960’s adopted the name Peter Lashley, a Barbados and West Indies opening batsman. Quietly he entertained far-fetched thoughts of wearing West Indian colours himself, like the two left handers. His progress up the ranks through his early teenage years, was rapid.
Willett is still the only player in the history of Nevis cricket to have made it to Trials after only one “cup match” and fast-forwarded on to the island side. This occasioned by the exit of his cousin, Clinton Willett, who migrated to St. Thomas, USVI. Willett was by then a slow orthodox left arm spinner, stubborn lower order batsman and athletic fielder, close to the wicket.
At 16, he debuted for Nevis in the Hesketh-Bell Shield Tournament of 1969 in Antigua vs Montserrat, the tournament noted for the “No Vivi, No Match” saga – and its non-conclusion due to the Alford Howell Affair. He was then the youngest ever to represent Nevis. He went on to represent Nevis for 20 seasons, many as captain, retiring in 1989. He also captained the Leeward Islands team.
After a stellar year in 1971 in the Leeward Islands tourney, in which he set a new record for most wickets (36) by a single bowler in a single season, he made his debut for the then Combined Islands, aged 17, (comprising players from the Windward and Leeward Islands) the same year. Two years later, at age 19, he became the first Leeward Islander to play test cricket for the West Indies, when he debuted against Ian Chappell’s Australians at Kensington Oval, Barbados on March 9, 1973. He was the first teenager to do since Garfield Sobers in 1954. The ascension was phenomenal, given the prevailing conditions of the day. Only players from the “so-called” big four of Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Barbados seemed to be afforded the opportunity to play for the regional side. In 1972, he had so befuddled the touring New Zealanders, that it became a matter of “when” not “if”. His selection was an incontrovertible symbol for players like Andy Roberts, Viv Richards, Deryck Parry, Richie Richardson and the string of 30-odd Leeward Islanders who have since followed in his footsteps by wearing the West Indian maroon. By breaking the geographical and psychological barrier, and shattering the small island concept, Willet taught us about our immense talents and our resilience in the face of relentless pressure. He played a mere 5 test matches over two years, took 11 wickets with a best of 3 for 33, and had two tours, England 1973 and India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in 1974/1975. His test career ended at Eden Gardens in Kolkota, India in 1975. His best figures for the West Indies were 8 for 73 against Glomargon at Swansea in 1973. He took 3 for 44 in the second innings. All told, in first class cricket, he took 286 wickets at an average of 28.43 in 98 matches, took 5 wickets in an innings 10 times, 10 wickets on 3 occasions, and snared 66 catches. His highest score was 56.
On the local front Willett has had a profound impact on every young cricketer who has represented Nevis in the past 45 years. As the first government appointed sports officer in 1980, he has worked in every school on the island, passing on his great skills to a new generation. Of further testament to his impact, the junction of Lower and Upper Government Road and radiating outwards 200 metres in all directions, has spawned a myriad of outstanding players such as Raffy Wallace (his brother-in-law), Stuart Williams (his nephew), Ronald Powell, Carl Tuckett, Merlin Liburd, sons Tonito and Akito, daughter Soneldo, among others. Three of the aforementioned have represented West Indies teams at different levels, several have captained Nevis and several have played for the Leeward Islands in regional tournaments. They also helped Nevis dominate Leeward Islands tournaments winning 8 championships (2 joint) in the 1990’s. Six other Nevisians: Deryck Parry, Keith Arthurton, Stuart Williams, Carl Tuckett (solitary ODI) Runako Morton and Kieran Powell have gone on to represent the West Indies.
From 1997 to 2015, Willett was stationed at the island’s largest primary school, the Charlestown Primary, and has led the school to many championships in cricket, football and athletics, including several three-peats at the much-touted annual Gulf Insurance Inter Primary Athletics Championships.
As a player he epitomized the spirit of the game, as a mentor his reach has spanned the island, and further afield. And certainly HE PLAYED TO WIN!!!!
Elquemedo Tonito Willett is worthy of honour for his service to the game, and to country.
Recognition for Service:
• 1997 - a stamp and first day cover bearing his image was issued by the Nevis Philatelic Bureau.
• 2001 - given a Life Time Achievement Award by the Nevis Cricket Association.
• 2005- he became the first inductee in the Nevis Hall of Fame at the newly-opened Nevis Sports Museum.
• July 2010 - the Nevis Island Administration of Premier Joseph Parry renamed the premier sporting venue Grove Park the Elquemedo T. Willett Park in his honour.
• 2013 - honored in Nevis on the 40th anniversary since his election to the West Indies test side.
• 2013 - A documentary “Willett at 60” was developed outlining his service to country and contribution to the game of cricket.
• April 6, 2013 - honoured by the Leeward Islands Cricket Association (LICA) at the Royal Grand Antiguan Hotel to mark 100 years of LI cricket.
• Awarded an MBE by the Federal Government in 2018
• Recognized by several diaspora groups.
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