Cricket fraternity mourns veteran administrator Nicholls

Veteran cricket administrator and former Barbados Cricket Association secretary Philip Nicholls died suddenly on Monday after reportedly collapsing while appearing in the Supreme Court, sending shockwaves through the local cricket fraternity and prompting tributes to a man remembered as a dedicated servant of the game. 

BCA Marketing and Communications Manager Steven Leslie told Barbados TODAY that he first met Nicholls 35 years ago, while representing Combined Schools in First Division cricket.

“Nicholls has held numerous positions during his cricket administration and obviously we always knew him as a very prudent legal mind. I can say that he’s always been very pleasant, courteous, and helpful, and throughout the years, I had the opportunity to work more closely with him, both at the University of the West Indies and more recently at the Barbados Cricket Association,” Leslie, who is also a former Division One cricketer, said.

“Members of the cricket fraternity and those within the legal profession have lost a good son of the soil.”

Veteran cricket commentator Wayne Holder described Nicholls’ death as a tremendous loss. Nicholls, affectionately known as Lumpy in cricket circles, also served as a director of the West Indies Cricket Board. 

He said: “It was a shock when I got the news this morning that my good friend, Lumpy as we affectionately referred to him, had left us so suddenly, but I would have to describe him as a true servant of the game of cricket.”

Holder added: “Of course we know he served as the Secretary of the Barbados Cricket Association for a number of years. He was also a West Indies Cricket Board Director representing the BCA and we know of his strong affiliation with the Pickwick Cricket Club.”

Holder said he first met Nicholls while playing schools’ cricket, beginning a friendship that lasted until Nicholls’ death.

“It is with deep regret and sadness that I come to terms with his passing and would want to wish my condolences to his family whom I know he loved dearly, and the Pickwick Club and generally the cricket fraternity in Barbados,” Holder said.

(KH)