One of the finest all-round players in modern cricket Sir Garfield Sobers will be visiting the Isle of Man to speak at a black tie dinner in June.
The Isle of Man Sporting and Dining Club is pleased to announce a black tie dinner event with former West Indies cricketer Sir Garfield Sobers. The event, sponsored by HSBC, will see Sir Garfield speaking about his love of cricket and providing some witty and fascinating insights into playing for one of the world’s leading national sides.
As well as being an elegant yet powerful left handed batsman, notching up an exceptional Test batting average, Gary Sobers was also a superb bowler. He was remarkably versatile with the ball, bowling two styles of spin - left arm orthodox and wrist spin - but was also a fine fast-medium opening bowler. A brilliant fielder anywhere, his catching close to the wicket has never been surpassed. He was also an enterprising captain, at times maybe too enterprising – once, a particularly generous decision to declare allowed England to win a decisive match at Port-of-Spain.
Born in Barbados with an extra finger on each hand (removed at birth), Sobers excelled at most athletic activities, playing golf, football and basketball for Barbados, and made his first class debut at the age of 16, appearing in Tests a year later. He was played initially mostly as a bowler, but four years later set the Test record for an individual batsman with a 365 against Pakistan. His achievements are numerous - including six consecutive sixes hit off an over from Malcolm Nash, in a superb innings of 254 for the Rest of the World against Australia in 1971.
As well as playing for the West Indies and Barbados, like many West Indians, Sobers plied his trade abroad, playing for Nottinghamshire and South Australia. He was knighted for his services to cricket in 1975.
A charity raffle will yet again be held during the dinner in June, with all funds raised being donated to a local charity to be nominated by sponsors HSBC. At the previous dinner held in April featuring Golf icon and Ryder Cup legend Bernard Gallacher OBE, ?945 was raised in aid of the MS Society (Isle of Man).
Kevin Cartledge, Senior Manager at HSBC in the Isle of Man, said:
“We are delighted to continue our support for the Isle of Man Sporting and Dining club. Already this year we’ve had the opportunity to hear from Kevin Keegan and Bernard Gallacher, and we are delighted that we are able to continue with this high calibre of speaker by welcoming another sporting icon and drawing on the success of these dinners to raise significant sums for local charities.”
John Wannenburgh of the IoM Sporting and Dining Club added:
“It’s not often that you get to hear from such a charismatic sporting personality as Sir Garfield Sobers, who is still recognised today as one of modern cricket’s greatest all-rounders. As well as being an exceptional sportsman, Sir Garfield is also a fascinating person who played for a national side known for its flair and passion. He will no doubt have some illuminating anecdotes which I’m sure will help make this dinner another hugely popular event.”
The event will take place on 27th June 2013 at the Best Western Palace Hotel and Casino in Douglas, with dinner tickets costing ?65 for members and ?75 for non-members (excluding VAT), available by contacting the Club on 617049 or at john@sportinganddiningclub.com.
