On July 17, a couple of weeks before his 90th birthday, Barbadian Sir Garry Sobers – widely considered to be cricket’s best all-rounder ever – passed away.
In February 1975, already a celebrated Barbadian, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth at the Barbados Garrison Racecourse just a mile from where he was born, as one of seven children.
A greater accolade came his way in 1988 when Sir Donald Bradman conferred the title of ‘the greatest all-round cricketer he had ever seen.’
An even greater honour was bestowed upon Sir Garry, who was one of the very few sportsmen Dad truly admired, when he was invited to be photographed with Dad at a work function, possibly in Maidstone in 1984 (according to Freddie)! He couldn’t have made Dad prouder (or more star-struck!).
Here’s an obituary from the News.
