at his home Friday night after a brief illness.

Miller, 67, was a highly respected umpire and long-serving entertainer, who was best remembered in the musical circles for his gigs on the hotel circuit in the 1960s with the late Vern El Verno del Congo Best as the singing duo Vern And Vere.

He was also a competent drummer and one of his trade marks was impersonating jazz singer Louis Satchmo Armstrong.

His sister Pat told the SUNDAY SUN that he was ailing for about a week and he was taken to the doctor last Tuesday night, but it was downhill from there. He passed away at 10:30 p.m.

Miller, who performed at the Belair Club and Cobblers Cove Hotel in his latter years, was also a judge in the annual Pic-O-de-Crop calypso competition.

On the cricket field, he was a no-nonsence umpire, who no-balled a number of bowlers for suspect actions.

He was never given the opportunity to umpire in first-class cricket, but was at one stage, recommended by the Barbados Cricket Umpires Association (BCUA) and his name was sent forward to the regional authorities.

BCUA's general secretary Hensley Robinson remembered Miller as a "very courteous and straightforward person with a good attitude towards what he had to do and was always willing to go anywhere he was assigned".

"About two to three weeks ago, he called to say not to assign him for any matches until May 3.

"Only last night, when I was preparing to do the assignments for the start of the new season, I had his name down for a match, so only to be shocked to hear this afternoon of his death," Robinson said.

"On behalf of the president, officers and members of the Association, I would like to extend our condolences to his family," he added. (EZS/JS)