… described as a pleasant and jovial individual
FORMER first class cricket umpire Rudolph Haynes, who passed away at the Bell Israel Hospital, Newark, New Jersey, on February 24  after a prolonged illness, will be laid to rest today, following a funeral service at the Ruimveldt Empowerment Centre.
In an invited comment with Chronicle Sport, current first class umpire Clyde Duncan, along with president of the Demerara Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association (DCUSA) Grantley Culbard, described Haynes as a pleasant and jovial individual.
“I cannot say that I knew him from his days as an umpire, but I feel pleased to say I knew him when he was an opening batsman with the Young Men’s  Christian Association (YMCA) Cricket Club, as my father was the president of that club,” recalled Culbard.
He continued, “Like most umpires, ‘Haynesy’, as he was called within the umpiring fraternity, became an umpire after he quit the game as a player and it was his greatest desire to officiate in a Test match, something he never did.
“That was his lone disappointment as an umpire, especially after David Narine came from behind him and officiated in a Test match.
But that aside, he was a very pleasant and jovial individual who always had a joke to give and I must say that while he was around, there never was a dull moment as he always lighted up the place with his jokes.”
Duncan recalled coming into contact with the burly Haynes when he joined the Guyana Cricket Umpires Council (GCUC) in 1977 where he was an active first class umpire.
“When I joined the Umpires Council in 1977,  he was already active as a first class umpire, being a member of the panel for a very long time, and what was memorable about him is the fact that he did most of his games alongside Mohammad Baksh,” said Duncan.
According to Duncan, the closest Haynes came to doing an international match was in 1989 when the West Indies played India in a limited overs international at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground.
“My other colleague, whose name I cannot recall at the moment, along with Barbados’ Lloyd Barker, was late for the game, so Haynes started the match with me and officiated for the first 33 overs of the West Indies’ innings and that was the closest he came to doing an international match.
“Apart from his on-the-field duties, Haynes was very active with the GCUC, partaking in training sessions and lectures for umpires, while he was instrumental in encouraging Eddie Nicholls to join the GCUC,” stated Duncan.
The 82-year-old Haynes was born on the June 28, 1928. His  body will be available for viewing at the Lyken Funeral Home from 12:00 h to 14:00 h, before proceeding to the Ruimveldt Empowerment Centre for funeral service at 15:00 h, then to the Le Repentir Cemetery for burial.
Chronicle Sport would like to express heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the late Rudolph Haynes. May His Soul Rest in Peace!