Parkites proud of Lara’s success

Lara, the record holder for the highest scores in Test and First-Class cricket, along with the most career runs in Tests, was speaking at a special function organised by the Queen’s Park Cricket club in honour of his achievements. "It started not just at Queen’s Park, or Harvard or Fatima College. It started back in the streets of Santa Cruz," the left-handed batting prodigy said.

"And the first people I would really love to thank and they are not here with me now are Pearl and Bunty Lara and if it wasn’t for them, I would not have been here today." He added: "So I must make special mention to the two most special people in my life and still are, and I want to thank them very much." Lara said the Queen’s Park Club has played a tremendous part in his career, and noted he would always be grateful for that. "I remember as a 10-year-old sitting in the Concrete Stand and watching those great West Indies fast bowlers — Andy Roberts, Colin Croft and batting legends — Sir Vivian Richards, Clive Lloyd, Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes," Lara recounted. "And I remember sitting behind the fence and saying how great it would have been, if I was there, at one point of my life."

"I must say a lot of people have played some role in ensuring me getting there, but foremost I must mention Queen’s Park Cricket Club - the opportunity to be a member, the opportunity to be received by everyone here today and the many more who are not here is always a humbling experience. I feel touched and honoured and proud of it." He told the gathering that he had played several important innings at the Queen’s Park Oval for the regional team, one of which was always foremost in his mind. "Scoring my first hundred at the Oval against Australia in 2003 — that was most relieving," Lara said.

Also speaking at the function was former West Indies all-rounder and current president of the Queen’s Park Cricket Club, Willie Rodriguez. He described the occasion as a special night in the history of the club, which is now 115-years-old. Rodriguez said that during the club’s existence, there were many members who had distinguished themselves, not only in the field of sport, but in other areas such as law, medicine, business, education and finance. "But as eminent as these people were, there has been no one, who has made us prouder to be ‘Parkites’ than our guest of honour, Mr Brian Charles Lara," Rodriguez said.

"Brian is still a young person but his achievements on the field of play have been nothing short of phenomenal." He said that Queen’s Park was proud of Lara’s achievements and as a member, had made us all proud. "But his singular achievements are not confined to the cricket field. His concern for the youth and a better TT cannot be better exemplified by the creation of his own Pearl and Bunty Lara Foundation," Rodriguez noted.