The Passing of Duncan Carter
A brief Appreciation
From: The Rev O Glenville Butler
The passing of Duncan Carter (68) is a great shock to us all – though we knew he was ailing for some time. Duncan and I joined Royal Barbados Police Force (RBPF) together in 1959 – he came straight from school at the ACME in White Park Road; this writer had done a stint in school-teaching.
He was a big- boned gentle giant – soft spoken, thoughtful, easy to get on with. After four years in RBPF where he worked in Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Duncan became a professional cricketer (English Leagues) and Member of Parliament (Barbados). In training at Regional Police Training Centre ( RPTC) at Paragon he confided in me in quiet assurance, “Seymour Nurse and I played cricket together for Middlesex in the BCL (League) – and he has gone straight into First Division Cricket at Empire (BCA). I am going to do just that,” he added. Players just did not make such rapid strides in those days, there were lots of good cricketers around – but Duncan did as he said.
Under Oliver Brome’s captaincy, Duncan was selected for the Police First Division team after recruit training at Paragon. He was a solid batsman, powerful fast bowler, good slip fielder. The Police team won the Division 1 Cup for the first time under Brome’s captaincy in 1964 with Duncan as an outstanding player. Commissioner Captain Wilfred Farmer for decades had hoped to see that day.
(Sir) Everton Weekes played a big part in the (cricketing) lives of Nurse, Brome, Carter. Duncan again confided in me in UK (1970s): “The happiest day in my life was when (Sir) Everton knocked on my door in 1965 and told me he recommended me to play professional cricket in the UK Leagues.” Duncan had not at that time played cricket for Barbados, but (Sir) Everton saw something in the all-rounder. He loved batting, and “never gave it away” (his wicket). He spent seventeen years in League cricket in England, and also qualified as a craftsman in Heating and Air-conditioning.
Duncan (“Rest”) Carter returned to Barbados with his wife Pauline in the 1980s, and he became an M P for a Christ Church constituency. A Care Home in Warners in that Parish is named after him. He was a community minded man; he enjoyed life and loved people. I last spoke to him earlier in the year.
Deepest sympathy to wife Pauline; their son and daughter. Duncan was a jolly good fellow!
2 responses so far ↓
Eric Spreng // November 12, 2008 at 12:52 pm |
Duncan Carter was a lovely man and I am very sad to hear of his passing.
I met Duncan towards the end of his cricketing career in 1978 when he came to play as the professional for Dunfermline Cricket Club in Scotland at the age of 38. He played for Dunfermline for 4 years before retiring from the game.
Duncan was not only a great cricketer, but also a great ambassador for the beautiful country of Barbados. I stayed with Duncan at his Warner Park home in March 1980, and met up with him on subsequent visits to Barbados in 1992 and 1996. I was delighted for him when he was elected to parliament.
I last met with him in Dunfermline in September 2001, and he will last long in my memory.
May you rest in peace Duncan.
colin boyle // November 14, 2008 at 12:26 pm |
I too wish to echo Eric Sprengs comments above.
I am a former captain of Dunfermline Cricket Club and was a budding young wicketkeeper when Duncan arrived at our club he would stand at first slip and pass on the most amazing knowledge of the game to me in that engaging gentle voice of his, for once in my life I was listening to what an elder was telling me.
Years later after I had retired and was wheeled out to play in an emergency the wicketkeeping was awful but Duncans tricks of the trade on how to watch a batsmen and get him out hadnt gone from my memory. We had a struggling Pakistan International opening bowler at that time as professional suffice to say he took four wickets that day from little traps laid using Duncans theories .Later in the bar the professional asked how on earth I had done that I just said a wily old West Indian called Duncan Carter tought me. I cant pay any greater tribute than that.
Duncan lit up our club and introduced his wonderful island to many Fifers ” Cheez I love that little rock” he would say when our national drink was roaring away inside him in many speak easy sessions in the Snug of McKane Park.
Thanks for many wonderful memories Duncan and also for imparting such priceless knowlege.
May you rest in peace forever.