There was Weekes, Worrell, Walcott, and Husbands.
As in Clifford Husbands, as he was then, who briefly joined the fearsome West Indies cricketing trio as part of the West Indies team in 1950.
The little known titbit was revealed by former chief justice Sir David Simmons, who was paying tribute to Sir Clifford Husbands, the former Governor General and retired Justice of Appeal, during a full sitting of the High Court yesterday.
Before current Governor General Sir Philip Greaves; retired governor general Sir Elliott Belgrave; Chief Justice Sir Marston Gibson, fellow judges of the Court of Appeal and of the High Court, as well as the magistracy, retired judges, staff of the Registration Department and members of Sir Clifford’s family, Sir David recalled how Sir Clifford would always tell the story of how he played for the West Indies in England in 1950.
“Now Wisden [a cricket reference book commonly called the Bible of Cricket] has no record of any such member of the team or official member of the touring party,” Sir David said to the amusement of the audience in Court No 1.
“But he said that one Sunday, after the official tour of the West Indies team had finished, there was a charity game being played and, as they then were, Frank Worrell, Everton Weekes and Clyde Walcott were playing but they could not raise an XI,” Sir David said.
“So Sir Clifford said he was summoned to help make up a number; he donned some whites and took to the field.
“Now, he has told me that story more than once but what he has never told me was the details of how many runs he failed to make or gave way as a bowler or fielder,” Sir David said, to more laughter.
The retired chief justice described Sir Clifford as a highly competent, confident and dignified Director of Public Prosecutions. He added that as a judge, Sir Clifford’s forensic style was “restrained and devoid of histrionics” and he was a Court of Appeal judge who was not afraid to dissent if he disagreed with the judgment of his two fellow judges. But he was one who always made himself available to offer guidance to young attorneys.
Sir David went on to praise Sir Clifford for the work he did in paving the way for the Penal System Reform Act and for the training he orchestrated for members of the legal profession by the Honorary Bench of Middle Temple.
He also said that as Governor General, Sir Clifford emphasised the importance of agriculture by conceptualising and executing the Governor General’s Agriculture Summer Camp.
In an earlier tribute on behalf of the Attorney General, Minister of Transport and Works Michael Lashley praised Sir Clifford, saying his approach “not only enforced the standard of the profession but also enhanced the quality of the submission and advocacy through the courts of Barbados”.
Immaculate
“As we salute this true statesman and outstanding son of the soil, a giant of the legal profession, we know that those standards that were set by him continue to prevail through the legal profession and continue to act as a guide for young lawyers entering this profession and those who are aspiring into this profession,” the Acting AG said yesterday.
Meanwhile, Queen’s Counsel Ralph Thorne, who spoke on behalf of the Bar Association, recalled his first case before Sir Clifford, who was then sitting in the High Court when judges still wore horsehair wigs.
“I was met with an extremely immaculate judge and for the length of a very robust trial that wig never lost its affixed position. You came to Sir Clifford’s court and there was a sense of order. You were met with a judge who insisted on order and decorum,” the senior attorney said. (HLE)
