By BRENT STUBBS

Chief Sports Editor

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Cricket Association president Gregory Taylor Sr said they will always remember the late Paul Thompson for his contribution to the sport over the years.

The 90-year-old Thompson, who was a former long-time cricket player, coach and executive, passed away on Wednesday night.

Taylor Sr called Thompson a mentor who helped him to establish himself in the same footsteps over the years. “I came into the Bahamas Cricket Association in 1989 and although I knew of him as being the president of the Commonwealth Wanderers Cricket Club, aside from being the assistant commissioner of police,” Taylor Sr said.

“I served under him also as he served as the assistant commissioner. He organised the Commonwealth Wanderers, who travelled the world representing the Bahamas.”

Taylor Sr, however, noted that in addition to being a policeman and cricketer, Thompson also played tennis and other sports. But his heart and soul was dedicated to cricket.

“During the latter part of his life, I got closer to him. When I became the president of the association in 2007, he became the manager of our under-19 cricket team that toured Canada,” Taylor Sr said.

“Up until his heyday and COVID-19, Mr Thompson would be on the pavilion porch at the Bahamas Cricket Club (at Haynes Oval), playing his music and playing dominoes. He was someone who was good to have around cricket.”

In return, cricket was also good to Thompson.

The BCA, under the direction of Taylor Sr, recommended Thompson for the International Cricket Council’s award, which he received, one of the highest honours in the sport. “One of his last events, he ran the Kentucky 6-a-side tournament, which was an exciting tournament filled with fun,” Taylor Sr said. “He also organised the Caricom Tournament, which he ran for the association.

“He ran a number of projects for the association over the years. When it came to cricket, there wasn’t anything that he was not willing to do for the enhancement of the sport.”

In collaboration with his family, led by his devoted wife Everlyn Thompson, Taylor said the BSA will come up with some type of memorial at Haynes Oval to reflect on the life and times of the late Paul Thompson.