BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, Leeward Islands, West Indies and the international cricketing fraternity are currently mourning the loss of former international cricket umpire Andrew Weekes who passed last night (Jan. 17).
Weekes, who hailed from Sandy Point, was a well-known sports icon in the disciplines of cricketer and football, but who had made a name for himself as an umpire in international cricket from 1983 to 1990.
In an interview with SKNVibes, local cricket figure Victor Eddy described Weekes as a very ardent sports icon locally, regionally and internationally.
“He was a member of the Crab Hill Sports Club in Sandy Point, and was also a soccer referee, a cricket umpire and when he played cricket he was well-known for his off spin bowling for his home club.”
Eddy added that Weekes umpired Test cricket form 1983 to 1990 and was the first and only person from the Federation and the Leeward Islands to have accomplished this feat.
“Nineteen eighty-three was a historic year for St. Kitts and Nevis as that was the year we got independence and was also the same year that Andrew Weekes began umpiring test cricket.
“Andrew Weekes actually was the first umpire from the Leeward Islands to umpire international cricket, and the famous Steve Bucknor of Jamaica, who was an international umpire for many years and is now retired, actually made his debut with Andrew Weekes.”
Eddy noted that Weekes had associated himself with many outstanding umpires throughout the West Indies and he had done valiant service as an umpire.
“It is very sad at this time for the cricketing fraternity, not just of Sandy Point but the whole cricket fraternity of the Leeward Islands and the West Indies, to have lost such a stalwart whose name has been written in the annals of West Indies cricket,” he added.
He continued: “On behalf of the entire Eddy family and also of the cricket fraternity of St. Kitts and the Leeward Islands, I would like to express sincere condolences to the family of Mr. Andrew Weekes on his passing. I know it will be difficult, but keep praying and we hope that the Lord will have mercy and strengthen you in your time of bereavement.”
Sports enthusiast Troy ‘Bif’ Mills, who is Weekes’ nephew, stated that his uncle’s umpiring career started in his hometown.
“His umpiring career started when he umpired local league in Sandy Point. He then would have extended to a national level, after which h he was invited to write the West Indies Cricket Umpires Exam and was successful. That was in the late 1970s.
“In 1983 when India toured the West Indies, he was invited to umpire the Test match that was held in Antigua, thus becoming the first umpire from St. Kitts and the Leeward Islands. And to this date, he is the only one from both St. Kitts and the Leeward Islands to do so.
“In a Leeward Islands tournament, St. Kitts versus Antigua in a close game, the former was batting and a catch was taken on the boundary but he was not certain if the batsman was out or if the ball was struck for a six. He left the field and asked the standby umpire if he was out or if it was a six and then went back to his position and gave the Kittitian batsman out. That is what basically started the umpire review.”
It was also reported that Weekes was responsible for the structuring of the St. Kitts Cricket Umpires Association in the late 1970s and served as its first President.
According to ESPNCricinfo, Weekes umpired four Test matches making his debut in Antigua in the April 28 to May 3 Test between West Indies and India in 1983 and umpired his final Test at the same venue from April 12 to16, 1990 for England’s tour of the West Indies that year.
He also did three One Day Internationals during the same period.
Mills added that Weekes died peacefully at his niece’s home last evening.
He was 72 years old.
SKNVibes joins with the St. Kitts-Nevis, Leeward Islands and the West Indies cricket fraternity, as well as the nation, in extending sincerest condolences to the family of the late Andrew Weekes.
