If there ever was a cricket match featuring Nevis or Nevisian players at the former Grove Park and even in more recent times at the Elquemedo Willet Park and there were only two female fans present, they would be Lucina ‘Mama Lu’ Dore and Georgette Gerald.
Georgette was not just an ardent cricket fan because arguably one can qualify for such a distinction by merely showing up at the Park on a regular basis. Georgette supported cricket on Nevis in tangible ways: Georgette was dedicated to Nevis cricket with special emphasis on the welfare of the Pennyless All Stars cricket club.
Brian Dyer former Nevis all rounder and a man who describes himself as ‘All stars to the bone’, told NTV sports yesterday that one of the most striking memories he has of Georgette is that when he was appointed as Secretary of the Pennyless All stars club in 1995, the club was virtually living up to its name as he was given a bank book with just twenty EC dollars recorded on it.
Georgette , along with Hazeldine Lewis, and sisters Carol and Sandra Liburd set about organizing fund raising activities which included, take away luncheons, barbeques and such like, in order to raise well needed funds for the club. As the club branched out and invited visiting teams from overseas for friendly exchanges, Georgette again led from the front to ensure that the visitors were properly fed from her personal kitchen.
Dyer also recalled that she praised them when they won and on the rare occasions that the team lost, they would be thoroughly chided with a sarcastic: I could have done better than are you’.
Georgette who was the sister of the well known Nevisian calypsonian, the Mighty Jo-Jo, was also known as a super domino player and would have dished out beatings to the likes of Elquemedo Willet, Stuart Williams, Raphael Wallace and Clinton Willet, among others as they matched skills around the domino table. It is understood that she even won a competition in company with her brother Jo-Jo sometime ago.
Lucina ‘Mama Lu’ Dore has fond memories of her cricket buddy. Whenever there was a match at the Park, they would both make the necessary sacrifice and arrangements to be present, in order to support the local lads. Their favourite seat was way at the top of the players’ pavilion. From that vantage point, they would cheer on, encourage and criticize the local players.
Georgette Gerald passed away recently after a prolonged illness. Former West Indies allrounder Carl Tuckett fondly remembers that even during her illness, Georgette would enquire about the state of the cricket or ask specific questions as to the welfare of the Pennyless All stars cricket club.
The home going ceremony for the late cricket supporter will be held on Friday 7th January at 2.30 pm at the Charlestown Methodist church.
The Pennyless All stars cricket club held a very important meeting on Tuesday night and some of the decisions coming out of that meeting include:
• The club will be out in full numbers at the funeral service
• Some of the players will volunteer to be pall bearers
• A member of the club will read the scripture text
• Brian Dyer will render a special tribute
• The now annual match up between the seniors of the club and their more youthful teammates which will take place later this year will now be played in honour of the deceased. The players will now proudly play for the Geogettte Gerald cup.
Sincerest condolences are extended to the family in mourning.
