Priest: Follow Sir Garry by serving country

REVEREND CANON GUY HEWITT yesterday urged Barbadians to honour the memory of National Hero The Right Excellent Sir Garfield Sobers, not by placing the cricketing legend on an unreachable pedestal, but instead by embracing lives of service and perseverance.

Delivering the sermon during yesterday’s state funeral at

Kensington Oval, the Anglican cleric declared that true greatness was measured by giving, rather than receiving, as was displayed by Sir Garry.

Hewitt painted Sir Garry, who died on July 17, as the epitome of “servant leadership” and a man whose extraordinary sporting gifts were matched by his humanity.

Drawing on the Gospel message that Christ “came not to be served but to serve”, the former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom said modern society too often equated greatness with wealth, fame and power.

“Whoever wishes to be great amongst you must be your servant,” he reminded the large gathering at ‘The Mecca’. “The higher one rises, the more one is called to serve, not to dominate.”

Hewitt said the principle extended beyond the church into homes, workplaces, organisations and national life.

“Humility before honour, service before status, others before self. Servant leadership isn’t weakness, but strength.”

The priest, who revealed he had grown up knowing the former West Indies legend and captain as ‘Uncle Garry’ before later calling him ‘Sir G’, described him as “a force of nature” whose brilliance inspired generations of ordinary Barbadians to believe greatness was within their reach.

“There are countless stories of this giant of a man who seemed able to do everything, yet carried it with humility, grace and style. He gave Barbados pride. He gave generations of boys and girls greatness that looked like us, spoke like us, walked like us and came from this rock.”

Extraordinary legacy

Hewitt also conveyed condolences from King Charles III, who had asked him to deliver a personal message honouring Sir Garry’s extraordinary legacy.

Quoting the English monarch, Hewitt said: “History is distinguished with sporting champions whose records have rightly commanded respect across generations. There have been few, far fewer, however, whose name alone brings a smile to people’s faces across Barbados, the Caribbean and the entire Commonwealth. Sir Garfield Sobers belongs very firmly in the latter category.”

The King extended his deepest sympathies to Sir Garry’s family.

Hewitt also passed on condolences from the Archbishop of Canterbury, Britain’s first black Cabinet Minister Lord Paul Boateng, former Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, renowned horse trainer Sir Michael Stoute and members of the Barbadian diaspora in the United Kingdom, where he also resides.

Reflecting on grief, the minister borrowed a Hebrew proverb which he said comforted him following his father’s death.

“Say not in grief that he is no more, but in thankfulness that he was,” he said, adding that death was “not the extinguishing of a light, but a lamp being put out because the eternal dawn has arrived”.

While celebrating Sir Garry’s astonishing achievements, Hewitt cautioned against turning him into a flawless myth.

“As we gather here, to treat Sir Garry as more myth than man would do him a disservice because it was his humanity that let us know we too could be great like him.”

He reminded mourners that biblical figures, Nelson Mandela and other great leaders all acknowledged their imperfections.

“The greatest glory in living lies not in never failing, but rising every time we fall,” he quoted Mandela as saying.

The sermon also linked Sir Garry’s sporting achievements to Barbados’ national journey, recalling the West Indies’ landmark 1966 victory over England in England as Barbados prepared for Independence under then Premier Errol Barrow the same year.

“Our West Indian cricketers helped affirm our independence of identity and spirit,” Hewitt said, describing cricket as a unifying force that made Caribbean people feel part of “something larger”.

Quoting Sir Garry himself, the priest reminded his audience at the Oval and online that success was built on discipline as much as talent. “People call me a genius, but what I achieved was not just because of my ability I was born with but because I worked hard.”

He challenged Barbadians to use their own Godgiven gifts in service of others and asked each person to consider whether they were “the hero of your own journey”.

Hewitt said Sir Garry’s’ greatest legacy extended to the inspiration he gave countless young Barbadians.

“His legacy is measured not just by his records but by every young Barbadian who now believes that greatness is possible because he showed us the way.”

He ended with a final farewell to the global icon: “Rest well, you great yet humble servant of the people.” (BA)

SENATOR REVEREND CANON Dr John Rogers conducting the commendation near the end of the funeral service at Kensington Oval.

REVEREND CANON GUY HEWITT delivering the

sermon. (Pictures by Jameel Springer.)