Regional
Headquarters, Jamaica, Thursday, July 2, 2020.The University of the West
Indies (The UWI) community is saddened by news of the passing of our
honorary graduate, the great sporting icon of Barbados, the West
Indies and the world, Dr Sir Everton Weekes.

The UWI extends
condolences to his family, friends and the cricketing community that
loved and admired a genius and gentleman, who during his ten years of
Test Cricket (1948 to 1958), was often officially recognised on the
basis of his performance as the best batsman in the world.

The University
community celebrates his contribution to West Indian nation building
at a critical moment in the decolonisation project of the region. The
1950s was a watershed in the struggle for regional democracy and
political independence and with Sir Everton then ranked the best
batsman in the world, certainly provided a sense of standards,
personal leadership, and global respect for our region.

Sir Everton,
together with the other ‘Ws’—Sir Frank Worrell and Sir Clyde
Walcott—constituted the world’s best batting combination, a West
Indian fortress that gave the team a shot at the global top spot in
the clash with Australia in 1951.

The UWI honoured
Sir Everton with the 2003 conferment of an honorary doctorate, and in
the naming of the beautiful cricket ground at its Cave Hill campus,
the ‘3Ws Oval’. He delighted in visiting the venue to watch the
game, while serving as Patron of the Campus’ cricket team. The
University extends condolences to his loved ones, and looks forward
to welcoming him home.

Photo
Caption

A
West Indian Immortal:
Marking the 20th year of its tradition of The UWI Vice-Chancellor's
XI Cricket Match, The University of the West Indies honoured Sir
Everton Weekes as a West Indian "Immortal" at The UWI Cave
Hill Campus’ 3Ws Oval in Barbados in February 2019.
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles in recognising Sir
Everton among the first to be honoured as Vice-Chancellor’s XI
Immortals noted, “Legends evolve into Immortals.”