Elquemedo Tonito Willett (born 1 May 1953) is a former

West Indian A West Indian is a native or inhabitant of the West Indies (the Antilles and the Lucayan Archipelago). According to the ''Oxford English Dictionary'' (''OED''), the term ''West Indian'' in 1597 described the indigenous inhabitants of the West In ...

international

cricket Cricket is a Bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball game played between two Sports team, teams of eleven players on a cricket field, field, at the centre of which is a cricket pitch, pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two Bail (cr ...

er who played in five

Test matches Test match in some sports refers to a sporting contest between national representative teams and may refer to: * Test cricket * Indoor cricket, Test match (indoor cricket) * Test match (rugby union) * Test match (rugby league) * Test match (associa ...

in 1973 and 1974. He made his first-class debut for

Leeward Islands The Leeward Islands () are a group of islands situated where the northeastern Caribbean Sea meets the western Atlantic Ocean. Starting with the Virgin Islands east of Puerto Rico, they extend southeast to Guadeloupe and its dependencies. In Engl ...

in 1970–71 at the age of 17, and played his last match in the 1988–89 season. He took 8 for 73 (his best innings figures) and 3 for 44 for the West Indians against Glamorgan in 1973. During New Zealand's tour of the West Indies in 1972, Willett was considered the best of the many left-arm finger-spinners the New Zealanders faced. Willett's nephew Stuart Williams has played many Tests and ODIs for the West Indies. His sons, Tonito and

Akito Willett Akito Elquemedo Willett (born 22 June 1988) is a Nevisian cricketer who has played for the Leeward Islands cricket team, Leeward Islands in West Indian domestic cricket. He is a leg spin bowler who bats right-handed. Willett made his senior debu ...

also play first-class cricket. In July 2010, Nevis's primary sporting venue, Grove Park, was renamed Elquemedo Willett Park in his honour. The renaming ceremony was a major event for the island, with several members of the island's administration participating, including the

Premier of Nevis The Premier of Nevis heads the Nevis Island Administration, an autonomous governing body within the Saint Kitts and Nevis, Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis. List of premiers of Nevis (1983-present) See also

*List of prime ministers of Sa ...

Joseph Parry Joseph Parry (21 May 1841 – 17 February 1903) was a Welsh composer and musician. Born in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, he is best known as the composer of "Myfanwy" and the hymn tune "Aberystwyth (hymn tune), Aberystwyth". Parry was also the first W ...

. Willett was appointed

Member of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

(MBE) in the

2017 New Year Honours The 2017 New Year Honours are appointments by some of the 16 Commonwealth realms to various orders and honours to recognise and reward good works by citizens of those countries. The New Year Honours were awarded as part of the New Year celebrati ...

for services to sport.

References

External links

* 1953 births Living people West Indies Test cricketers Combined Islands cricketers Leeward Islands cricketers Nevisian cricketers Members of the Order of the British Empire {{SaintKittsNevis-cricket-bio-stub