by EZRA STUART

FORMER BARBADOS CRICKET ASSOCIATION (BCA) vice-president and Empire Club stalwart, Charles Alleyne, who died yesterday, has been hailed as an outstanding cricket administrator.

Alleyne, a former president of the famous Bank Hall-based club, played practically every role at Empire since first representing the club in 1941. He was a trustee
of the club for more than 40 years and captained Empire's cricket and football teams in the 1940s and 1950s.

A tall, calm person, Alleyne was also a former head of the Government Statistical Department, and executive director of the Barbados Family Planning Association.

He was one of four honorary life vice-presidents who were honoured by the Empire Club in 2004 when he was presented with a mahogany clock at the club's awards ceremony.

Long-serving former BCA president, Captain Peter Short, said he was "greatly saddened to hear of the sudden passing of my old friend."

"Charles was a good club cricketer for Empire and an outstanding cricket administrator who served for many years as a vice-president of the BCA during my term as president.

"He was a man of impeccable character whose contributions were always well-founded and in the best interest of the game. He was a gentleman of the highest quality, whose loyalty was never in doubt. I offer my sincerest condolences to his family," Captain Short said.

BCA president Tony Marshall, in offering condolences to his family, said Alleyne "was an outstanding administrator and gave much to Barbados cricket and will be missed".

"The cricketing public of Barbados is saddened at the news of the passing of Mr Charles Alleyne, GCM, former president of the Empire Club, vice-president and until his death, honorary life-vice-president of the Barbados Cricket Association.

"He was one of the pioneer administrators of One-day cricket – formerly Barbados Fire & General, now Sagicor – competition. On behalf of the Board of Management and members of the Barbados Cricket Association, I extend sincere condolences to his wife, sons, and daughter," Marshall said.

Legendary Barbados and West Indies cricketer Sir Everton Weekes, who played with Alleyne at Empire in the 1940s and 1950s, said he was also a capable cricketer and was unfortunate not to represent Barbados in first-class cricket.

"Charles was a great administrator and I thought he might have been unlucky not to have played for Barbados in the 1940s. He was quite a useful all-round cricketer. A fine off-spinner, useful batsman, and a brilliant fielder.

"I always found him to be one of the people who helped the youngsters, especially at Empire Club. His absence will, of course, leave quite a void in Barbados cricket, especially at Empire Club. I would like to offer my condolences to his entire family and the Empire Club," Sir Everton said.

Alleyne also served as manager of the Barbados cricket team for a number of years. He is the father of former BCA president Stephen Alleyne, who is now chief executive officer of World Cup Barbados.

One of his sons, Jeremy Alleyne, played first-class cricket for Barbados. Another son, David, is a stalwart of Empire.