Carlton Forbes came to England in the 1950s and established himself as a professional with Middlesbrough before joining Nottinghamshire in 1959. Although he was not able to play for the first team - he did not have the necessary residency or birth qualifications - he was signed to take part in the new 2nd XI Championship where there were no such rules. In his first season he was the leading wicket-taker and he made his first-class debut in a university match. At this time he was an allrounder bowling left-arm spin, but he subsequently switched to left-arm medium with more success.

By 1961 he was qualified to play in the Championship and he passed 1000 runs for the only time in his career, as well as taking 59 wickets. His batting never reached the same level again, but in 1965, 1966 and 1967 he took a hundred wickets, topping the county averages in the last two summers.

In 1970 he turned down an offer of a new contract but continued to play intermittently. After one game in 1971 and none the following year, he returned in 1973 with reasonable success but that was to be is swansong.

After retiring he opened the New Calypso night club in Nottingham. He returned to Jamaica in the late 1970s.
Martin Williamson