03/07/2023
Another way the Caribbean community has enriched life in the UK
*Caribbean Influence in the UK* On Saturday, the West Indies cricket team, the famous 'Windies'; lost to Scotland in the World Cup Qualifier.
How did Scotand's cricket become so good? A Jamaican trained them! It's another way that the community has made a massive contribution in GB (even if it worked against us on Saturday).
The man responsible was club cricket legend Irvin Iffla, who was born in Kingston, Jamaica. He initially played for the Jamaican Cricket team, before moving to Scotland on a contract that required him to both play and train.
His trainees spoke highly of his character and skill, his encouragement, and the transformative effect he had on the Scottish game. 'He changed everything, frankly;" said Raymond Bond, a wicketkeeper. "He transformed the whole club and the whole of Scottsish cricket. He was a magician with the ball and brilliant with the bat, and people came flocking to Williamfield to see him every Saturday he was playing".
Iffla passed in 2012 aged 88, and is buried in Stirling, Scotland, where he was the second ever person to recieve the Freedom of the City. So, it was a loss on Saturday for the Windies, but a win for the community and Iffla's fantastic sporting legacy.
Image : Stephencdisckson https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_grave_of_Irvin_Iffla,_Valleyfield_Cemetery,_Stirling.jpg