TalkSports
Today, Grenada
pauses to celebrate a truly remarkable milestone—the 90th birthday of Sir
Walter Eden St John, a distinguished son of the nation whose life has been
defined by service, leadership, and a commitment to Grenada and the
wider Caribbean.
Born in St
George’s, Grenada, on December 27, 1935, to the late Edward and Ellaline St
John, Sir Walter’s journey spans nine decades of nation-building, sporting
excellence, and public service. Few individuals have shaped Grenada’s sporting
and civic landscape as profoundly or as consistently as he has.
Sir Walter’s
love for sport began not behind a desk, but on the field. As a young man, he
represented Grenada in basketball and athletics, earning regional
distinction in 1956 when he competed for the Windward Islands at the Texaco
Southern Games in Trinidad, where he captured a bronze medal in the high
jump.
That early
athletic experience would later inform his visionary approach to sports
administration—one grounded in fairness, opportunity, and development.
Between 1972
and 1976, Sir Walter held the rare distinction of serving simultaneously as
President of four national sporting bodies: the Grenada Cricket
Association, Basketball Association, Football Association, and the National
Sports Council. His longest and most impactful tenure, however, came in
cricket, where he served as President of the Grenada Cricket Association
from 1972 to 2003, shaping generations of administrators and players.
Sir Walter’s
influence extended well beyond Grenada’s shores. He served as a Member of
the Windward Islands Cricket Board from 1968 to 2003, and as a Director
of the West Indies Cricket Board from 1978 to 2003, a period that
encompassed some of West Indies cricket’s most iconic eras.
In 1984,
he was appointed Assistant Manager of the West Indies Cricket Team during
their historic tour of England, further cementing his reputation as a trusted
and respected regional sports administrator.
Equally
impressive has been Sir Walter’s contribution to public service. Over the
years, he served with distinction on numerous statutory and national boards,
including the Grenada Electricity Services, the Grenada Board of
Tourism, the Rent Restriction Board, and the Grenada Ports
Authority, where he spent three terms as a Director, including two as Chairman
of the Board.
His dedication
to good governance was further demonstrated through two extended periods of
service on the Grenada Public Service Commission, totalling more than two
decades.
In the private
sector, Sir Walter earned equal respect within the Shipping Fraternity,
having worked for over 33 years with one of Grenada’s leading shipping
agencies, before establishing his own shipping company in 1987, a
testament to his entrepreneurial spirit and professional integrity.
Sir Walter’s
contributions have not gone unnoticed. In 1975, he was awarded the Officer
of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). In 2019, his lifelong
service to Grenada and the region was further recognised when he was Knighted
as an Ordinary Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG)
by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
He has also
received numerous national and regional awards, including Independence
honours, Ministry of Sports accolades, recognition from the Grenada Olympic Committee, the Grenada Ports Authority, the Windward Islands Cricket Board,
and Cricket West Indies—each reflecting a chapter of extraordinary
service.
Behind the
public achievements stands a devoted family man. Sir Walter’s long and
distinguished career was steadfastly supported by his beloved wife Yvonne,
and their three children—Christopher, Michael, and Marguerite—who share
in his legacy of service and values.
At 90, Sir
Walter St John represents the very best of Grenada—quiet strength,
principled leadership, and service without fanfare. His life story is not
merely a record of positions held or awards earned, but a blueprint for
nation-building through integrity, commitment, and humility.
As Grenada and
the Caribbean salute this extraordinary milestone, one truth stands clear: Sir
Walter’s legacy is woven into the fabric of Grenadian sport, governance, and
national pride—and it will continue to inspire generations to come.
Happy 90th
Birthday, Sir Walter St John.
A true Grenadian
gentleman. A life well lived.
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