Sporting Witness
Sporting Witness
Learie Constantine - West Indies cricket pioneer
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December 3, 2020
10 minutes
Available for over a year
In the 1920s, Learie Constantine became the first West Indian cricketer to sign a professional contract in England. He was a star of the domestic and international game thanks to his athletic all-round performances with bat and ball. Learie Constantine is also credited with helping improve race relations in Britain and later became the first black person to be awarded a peerage. Simon Watts introduces the memories of Learie Constantine as recorded in the BBC archives.
PHOTO: Learie Constantine in action (Getty Images)