Parky leads tributes to Worcestershire legend

Buy photos » Worcestershire legend Basil D'Oliveira . Picture courtesy of WCCC Heritage Group.

MORE THAN 1,000 people packed into Worcester Cathedral for a thanksgiving service to pay tribute to one of the city's greatest sporting legends Basil D'Oliveira.

Famous names from the world of cricket as well politics and showbiz gathered alongside his family, friends and cricket lovers to say a final farewell to a legendary Worcestershire and England cricketer, who helped open the eyes of the world to the cruel injustice of South African apartheid.

Mr D'Oliveira, who also coached Worcestershire during one of its most successful spells in the 1980s and early 90s, died in November after a long battle with Parkinson's Disease, aged 80. Among the mourners was his widow Naomi, his sons Damian and Sean as well as his grandchildren and other family members.

They were joined by famous names including England and Worcestershire legend Tom Graveney, former England women's cricket captain Rachel Heyhoe Flint, Sir Mervyn King, the Governor of the Bank of England, as well as many current Worcestershire players and director of cricket Steve Rhodes.

Among those leading the tributes was veteran journalist and BBC broadcaster Sir Michael Parkinson who spoke with pride of his friendship with a truly remarkable man who "helped bring the walls of apartheid tumbling down".

There were also moving eulogies from his former captain at Worcestershire Norman Gifford and Beresford Williams, the President of Western Province Cricket Union in South Africa.

Mr D'Oliveira, who was born in Cape Town in 1931, broke all manner of cricketing records growing up in South Africa but under the country's apartheid system the all-rounder was deemed to be 'coloured' and not allowed to play alongside white players.

But his determination to play at the highest level eventually brought him to England in 1960 where he spent four seasons starring for Middleton in the Central Lancashire League. Tom Graveney persuaded Worcestershire to sign him in 1964 and two years later he won the first of 44 Test caps for England, at the age of 34.

But South African president John Vorster's objection to his inclusion in the England touring side in 1968-69 brought about the severing of all sporting ties with South Africa. The country's isolation from the world of sport was instrumental in eventually bringing down apartheid.

Beresford Williams, who spoke about Mr D'Oliveira's early sporting life, described him as a world class, talented and determined South African cricketer who could have achieved so much more had he not faced the injustice of apartheid.

He said: "Basil was always dignified and did not allow the injustices to hold him back. He was a victim who chose to liberate himself, to free himself of the inequality of apartheid."

Mr Parkinson revealed how on first arriving in England, Mr D'Oliveira struggled so much to adapting to life as a free man, he even considered returning to South Africa.

He spoke of his great willpower and how in a private conversation with Nelson Mandela, the former South African president had told Mr Parkinson he considered Mr D'Oliveira to be a significant figure in the fight against apartheid.

The broadcaster added that had it not been for apartheid, Mr D'Oliveira would now be considered one of the greatest cricketers of all time.

The final moving tribute came from Norman Gifford, who captained Mr D'Oliveira during much of his 15 years as a Worcestershire player before his retirement in 1979.

He said: "I had some tremendous times with him on the field, I had some interesting times with him off the field. For me he will always be a true legend of Worcestershire cricket."

The service ended with a trumpet solo performance of the Nat King Cole classic Unforgettable.