AUSTRALIAN UMPIRE COLIN EGAR, who stood in the famous tied Test at Brisbane in 1960-61, is in Barbados and still cherishing memories of that great series.

Here on holiday with his two daughters and grandson, the 78-year-old Egar was among the audience at the inaugural Sir Conrad Hunte Memorial Lecture held at the University of the West Indies' (UWI) Lecture Theatre 1 on Tuesday night.

"Wes (Hall) told me about the lecture and I decided to come. Conrad was a terrific guy and a bloody good cricketer.

"He was a very attacking player. I think he hit the first ball of the match in Brisbane for four. That was a great team that Frank Worrell had. They brought cricket back to life. Cricket was a bit dull at the time, just like it was for some time before Australia and England played that fine series last year," he said.

"He and I were good friends. Conrad and I used to talk a lot. I got on very well with him. That was in 1960-61. Then I got the surprise of my life when I was manager of the Australian team to South Africa in 1997 and there he was.

"He came up to me and told me he was the MC for the function. I said, I know your face. He said, yeah, I am Conrad Hunte. That was the last time I saw him. He was a lovely man," Egar said.

Sir Conrad was one of six Barbadians to play in the tied Test back in December 1960. The others were Sir Garry Sobers, the late Sir Frank Worrell, Wes Hall, Cammie Smith and Peter Lashley. The great Lance Gibbs was 12th man.

Egar was one of Australia's leading umpires through the 1960s. In that decade he stood in 29 out of Australia's 30 home Tests, making his debut in the tied Test between Australia and West Indies at Brisbane in 1960-61, although his colleague, Col Hoy, gave the final run-out decision.

He really hit the headlines in the first Test of the 1963-64 series against South Africa when he no-balled Ian Meckiff for throwing four times in his first over. Meckiff did not bowl again in the match and his career was over. But Egar received death threats (an anonymous caller warned he would "get the Kennedy treatment") and he was given police escorts for some time after. Egar's last match was against West Indies at the SCG in 1968-69.