JOSEPH `Reds’ Perreira on Wednesday evening reminisced on his career as a cricket commentator at a forum held at the Georgetown Cricket Club pavilion.Addressing a handful of persons, Perreira informed that he came to Georgetown from the Pomeroon in 1945 and lived at Russell and Howes Streets, Charlestown (Shell Yard).
He said leading up to the 1950s his career in radio commentary started and George DePeana was one of the athletes (track) who really caused him to go into radio commentary.
`Reds’ as he is familiarly known, reminisced on the century Peter Bailey made at the world-famous GCC ground. He also reminisced on the roles that Clyde Walcott, Everton Weeks and Frank Worrell played in lifting the standard of cricket in the Caribbean and the many runs they made against visiting teams while thrilling the large crowds at the different venues.
He said the trio along with Jeffrey Stollmeyer energised his interest in the game of cricket.
He remembered that at 11 years old his father had a radio which he passionately listened to cricket commentary but his real upbringing came from Case Cup, Wight Cup and Rajah Cup matches.
“I used to borrow my sister’s bicycle and attend those matches on weekends” Perreira said and recalled that every weekend there used to be cricket matches being played at all the grounds in Georgetown.
He said by age 49 he was studying to enhance himself and then came the tour of India to the Caribbean where he was given the opportunity of a lifetime and he grasped it with both hands and never looked back.