Tribute To An All-Rounder (27 September 1998)

27 September 1998

Tribute To An All-Rounder

by Tony Cozier

Cecil Beaumont Williams - "Monty" to family and friends, "Boogles" to those who knew him through his considerable sporting exploits - lost his long battle against cancer in Toronto, Canada, last weekend at the age of 72.

From an era in which sporting talent was inhibited neither by the need to specialise nor by the demands of academic study, he was an outstanding all-round sportsman at Harrison College who also won a scholarship to Codrington College and Durham University, England.

From a large, close family that typified all the best Barbadian virtues, he made the most of his talents and did so with a dignity and humility that endeared him to the wide cross-section of the communities with whom he came into regular contact, both in Barbados and abroad.

They were attributes appropriately referred to in his homily at the St. James Anglican Church in Toronto last Wednesday. It was delivered by the Barbados-born dean of Toronto, Rev. Douglas Stoute, himself an old Harrisonian and cricketer who remembered being more than once bamboozled by Williams' googly.

At a time when the three leading secondary schools - Harrison College, Combermere and Lodge - were integral parts of the Division 1 cricket competition and when Harrison College held its own with the best clubs in football, Monty Williams was one of those boys who stood out as much on the sports field as he did in the classroom.

Now, he would have comfortably gained a Barbados scholarship but, in his day, there was only one such award and he earned a scholarship to Codrington College, and then on to Durham, instead.

While still at Codrington, he, the Hutchinson brothers and other visionary young friends founded Carlton Club, which was to develop into such an important institution in Barbados society.

It was a clear and early indication of his leadership potential and it was fitting that he should not only captain its sports team but also become its president.

On leaving school, Williams inevitably proceeded to represent Barbados at both cricket and football and did well enough to be chosen in the celebrated West Indies cricket team to England in 1950, a mere two years after his first-class debut.

A solid right-hand batsman, especially strong off the back foot, and a bowler who dealt mainly in googlies and top-spinners, he was a regular member of the Barbados team between 1948 to 1956, except for three years following the England tour when he was studying at Durham.

His all-round performances in regional cricket gained him his selection in John Goddard's team that first put West Indies cricket on the map with their resounding 3-1 triumph.

But the powerful batting, revolving around his three fellow Barbadians, the Three Ws, and the presence of the previously unknown spin pair, Sonny Ramadhin and Alf Valentine, limited his chances in both departments.

His second innings' seven for 55 from 32.1 overs against a strong MCC team at Lord's was the highlight of his trip, but he could only score 152 runs in 18 first-class innings and was not called on in the Tests.

Appointed Barbados captain for two matches against E.W. Swanton's team of English players in 1956, he hit the highest of his two hundreds, 133 at Kensington Oval against an attack spearheaded by Frank "Typhoon" Tyson, one of the fastest bowlers the game has known, in what was his last year of first-class cricket.

His first had been 108 against Trinidad, also at Kensington, in 1949 when he shared a fourth-wicket partnership of 215 with Johnnie Lucas.

On retirement, he was elected onto the board of management of the Barbados Cricket Association where his measured, common sense contributions are remembered by those who sat with him.

Outside of sport, he served in Barbados' diplomatic corps with such distinction that he was posted as High Commissioner to Britain and Canada and Ambassador to the United States.

Among his six brothers, all of whom were sportsmen, Sir Denys is the Chief Justice of Barbados and others have held distinguishedpositions in law and government service.

On retirement from the diplomatic service, Williams joined Barbados Shipping and Trading, Barbados' largest company, in an executive position.

He leaves his widow, Dorothy, and three adult children.

Debut 1948, Barbados v MCC.

37 matches, 987 runs, average 29.02,
highest score 133, Barbados v EW Swanton's XI, Kensington Oval, 1956.
75 wickets, average 29.10, best figures 7/55, WI v MCC, Lord's, 1950.

Source :: The Barbados Nation (https://www.nationnews.com/)