Fri, Jun 1. 2012

by Dr A. Cecil Cyrus

Let me begin by apologizing for the absence of my wife and myself at F.O’s funeral. This was due to a previous commitment.

I know that there have been numerous tributes to F.O., as he was affectionately known near and far, both as a model citizen and a legendary colossus of cricket. But it would be remiss of me if I did not make my own contribution, however small. I claim this honour as one of his few surviving contemporaries at the Boys’ Grammar School. He was my senior by two years, and I quickly came under his tutelage, as he was captain of Reeves House and of its cricket, football and athletics teams.

After he left school, F.O.’s prowess as a cricketer grew rapidly, and he soon became a legend. I have never missed an opportunity to sing his praise as a giant among West Indian fast bowlers; indeed, one of the all-time greats. Not only was he a great bowler, but also a batsman who contributed useful runs on every occasion. I was present in the forties when the Trinidadian spin magicians Burnette and Pouchet bundled out most of the St Vincent team for a few runs. It was F.O. who brought some respectability to the score by treating both bowlers with disdain as he lifted them into the boundaries from the moment he entered the crease. Then, his productive innings was cut short when umpire Sammy Neverson told him to “settle down.” F.O. was respectful and careless enough to obey him, only to lose his wicket in this unaccustomed role.

I was present also at Arnos Vale cricket field when the great Frank Worrell was at the peak of his performance and F.O. clean bowled him for a duck in the second ball, and again had him caught for 25 in the second innings. This was after Chic Cummings had dropped him in the second innings at slips for nought, off the bowler at the other end. It was reported that the great batsman locked himself in his hotel room and wept at the ignominy of this sporting cataclysm on the first day.{{more}}

By his own account to me, his most impressive performance was in his last regional match against Dominica in 1962 at Victoria Park when he took 9 wickets for 13 runs in 13 overs, with 3 maidens.

F.O. was a legend who should have been in the record books of great world fast bowlers, for he would have gone from strength to strength with exposure at the international level. But he was robbed of this distinction and honour because of the unfairness and insularity of our West Indian people, properties that are still operative. He should have been in the West Indies team that toured England in 1957, but the illustrious Sir Garfield Sobers, in his autobiography, confessed to his role and that of another great Barbadian batsman in ensuring this did not happen. It was common knowledge that cricketers from Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados and the then British Guiana had the monopoly on West Indies Team cricket.

I never ceased to extol F.O.’s prowess as a fast bowler whenever the occasion arose. I had the pleasure to be introduced to an English newspaper sports reporter who was visiting during an international match at Arnos Vale. We got around to discussing great fast bowlers, and, of course, I mentioned with pride our legend, F.O. Mason, and bemoaned the unsavoury discrimination against him. I was amazed and delighted that this reporter agreed wholeheartedly with me, because he had been following F.O.’s cricketing career for years.

Cricket aside, what of the man, the citizen, Frank Odel Mason? Well, here again, proximity allowed me to assess the character of this gem among human beings. During the very many years of our friendship, I found him to be a man of healthy, childlike innocence and simplicity. Let me hasten to add that this description is not meant to be derogatory; rather, it is written in sincere appreciation and envy. F.O. was humble, sincere, caring. He had no airs, no arrogance, no pretentiousness, and never indulged in braggadocio or chest thumping, however well he performed at cricket. I cannot recall his ever losing his temper. We hardly ever met without convulsing in laughter at some bygone story of Grammar School days, especially as we reminisced about that comical schoolmate, “Back Magic”, the late George Phillips.

My family and I extend heartfelt sympathy to Mrs Mason, children and other relatives on the passing of this dear man. He will be immortal as he continues to live in the hearts of all those whose lives he touched. Goodbye, dear friend. May you rest in eternal peace, quiet and love.