THE man who was called “our hero” by none other than Nelson Mandela and affectionately known as “Dolly” by county cricket fans has finally declared at the age of 80.

Though Basil D’Oliveira would unwittingly transcend his sport to signify the struggle against apartheid he never lost touch with its grass roots and remained a modest man to the end.

From Cape Town to Claines he has been remembered this weekend, not only as a central figure in that momentous struggle but as the county’s much-loved “elder statesman” of cricket.

He never forgot his debt to his adopted homeland, which gave him the chance denied to him by his country of birth and his warmth for Worcestershire CCC remained glowing throughout his life.

His rise from cricketing ghetto in Cape Town to top-rank England star was remarkable. Banned from playing the sport he loved because of the colour of his skin, he went on to win the hearts of the British people.

As he reflected to the Worcester News in 1980 he was always determined to succeed from the days he went to Newlands, Cape Town’s famous stadium, to watch the great white players in Test matches.

“I’d sit in the segregated part of the ground, blissfully unconcerned that I couldn’t sit beside a white man but terribly envious at the skills on display”.

He remembered April 1, 1960 as “the most astonishing day in my life” – when he landed in England to begin his great “English experience”.

And what an experience it was. After playing for Central Lancashire Leaguers Middleton and a qualification year with Kidderminster he came to Worcestershire to “learn the ropes”.

He did so much more than that. The right-handed batsman and medium-pace bowler illuminated New Road with his considerable skills and trademark flamboyance with the bat before going on to coach the side.

As club coach he oversaw the likes of Ian Botham, Graham Dilley, another Worcestershire legend who sadly died last month, and a young Graeme Hick to domestic success.

He also established himself in the England Test team that went 26 Tests without defeat between 1968 and 1971.

He was made an MBE, then CBE, immortalised by the Basil D’Oliveira stand at New Road and even name-checked in hit TV comedy Fawlty Towers by semi-permanent hotel guest, the batty old Major.

To the world he will be remembered as the scourge of apartheid but to those at New Road he will always be remembered as dignified “Dolly”.

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