Dear Editor,

Former Jamaican cricketer Renford Pinnock, who passed away recently, is placed among the pantheon of famous Spanishtonians. These include iconic sporting personalities such as G C Foster, after whom the sports institution has been named.

Then there are legendary West Indian spin bowler Alfred Valentine, George Mudie, and his former teammate at the parish and national levels, Herman Bennett, who also passed away a few weeks before him.

But while Pinnie, as he is affectionately called, is well known for his cricketing prowess, I firmly believe Pinnock is the best batsman who was never selected to represent the West Indies. If you ask me, that was a big loss to the region’s cricket. There is no doubt in my mind that he would have added tremendous value to Test cricket.

But there are other areas in the field of sports in which he stood out. When I was growing up in Spanish Town during the 60s, Pinnie was the most versatile and multi-talented sporting individual I ever saw. At the time, he was holding his own in just about every ball game. Anyone who has never seen him play football, table tennis and billiards missed something special about him.

In representing his parish of St Catherine in football he was, at times, an amazing goalkeeper, and at other times a most cunning, crafty and colourful centre-forward. The best you would ever see.

His creativity didn’t stop on the field of sports. What is perhaps a lesser-known fact about Pinnie is that his skill extended to the performing arts. Yes, he was a singer endowed with a high level of vocal competence, performing at times in the first capital at concerts and civic functions. This is the measure of the rich legacy of Renford Pinnock that he was packaged with an abundance of grace, charm, dignity and humility. I wish to see the day that an award is named in his honour for excellence in any discipline. He is the personification of all of the above and deserving of such accolades. His memory should live on.

Basil Walters

basilirie@yahoo.com