ALL his life he served thousands of people, and in his death, hundreds turned out to pay respect to one of Jamaica’s foremost sports administrators, Headley Roy McKinley Forbes.

He was laid to rest yesterday, following the funeral at St Mary The Virgin Anglican Church on Molynes Road.

Forbes, who died at 90 years old on October 30, spent over 60 years at the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) as treasurer and assistant secretary. He served the Boy Scouts; St John’s Ambulance; Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA); the FISH clinic; Jamaica Physical Education Association; and Jamaica College Sports Development Committee.

The Holmwood Technical past student also managed numerous athletics teams to both senior and junior international competitions, and served as time keeper, meet manager and marshal. He was assistant equipment manager at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games held in Kingston in 1966.

Forbes, who was inferred with the Order of Distinction (OD), and was a justice of the peace, was born in Clarendon in 1929, and represented Monymusk Sugar Estate in cricket, football and rugby. Although he did not compete in athletics, he had a passion for officiating, something that his son, Ian Forbes — the first vice-president of JAAA — has taken up.

“I consider him to be a giant. He was a man who lived a full life, a purposeful life, a life of service and [who gave] back to society,” Ian told the Jamaica Observer.

“He epitomised volunteerism and every sphere and every step of his life he volunteered. He was involved in numerous organisations and many safety organisations, some of which he was the founding member,” he pointed out.

“It has been a life of service, a life of labour and a life of giving back and a life of purpose. So he is gone, but his legacy will live on,” he added.

Headley Forbes’ other son Peter, who read the eulogy alongside Ian, said their father, was a man of service, and to him, serving others was more important than his professional job, which was as an officer at Industrial Safety and Welfare.

“Decency, punctuality, reliability, honour, dignity and respect, these were all held in high esteem by our father,” said Peter.

“He will be greatly missed by many but never will be forgotten by those who were fortunate enough to have known him,” he added.

Headley Forbes was given a gaurd of honour by members of the Boy Scout fraternity, the St John’s Ambulance workers and members of the Jamaica College football team as his body was taken to the hearse.

The service was also attended by Olivia Grange, the minister of sports, JAAA officials, including Garth Gayle, Ludlow Watts, Colin Campbell, and veteran journalist Ed Barnes. Director of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewellyn read a Bible lesson.