Dear Editor,
The very last first class cricket in which I officiated was England vs Guyana at Bourda in 1974. My partner during this game was Compton Vyphuis. On the wall in my den is a picture of Compton and myself walking off the field of play. I will always treasure that photograph. That very week Compton made his debut as a Test match umpire. What I saw of Compton’s work during a rain bedevilled Test assured me that Compton Vyphuis was going to be a credit as Guyana’s Test representative and to the West Indies panel.
I never saw Compton during his subsequent Test career, but from the reports I read I realized that he had done himself and cricket very well.
I stood with Compton Vyphuis in quite a few matches, not only during the local cricket seasons, but also in West Indies first class cricket. I was very impressed in the first game when we stood together. Compton was a quiet man. No fuss. He made his decisions with the minimum of attention, and he gained the respect of his brother umpires and the players.
Compton was a student of the game. The Laws of Cricket was his Bible. I can remember his contributions to the Umpires Council during our pre-season discussions. He always had something new to add. He loved the game for sure, and I am sure he passed on to the younger umpires, his experiences and knowledge of this great game.
I was most surprised at his passing, and was saddened by it. Now he has joined Lew Kow, Cortez Jordan, Errol Gillette, Ralph Gosein and David Archer. With ‘Pryor’ Jonas as Chairman, they must surely be debating the awful state of West Indies cricket.
I beg to extend to his family, the Guyana Umpires Council and the West Indies Umpires Association my sincere condolences.
Yours faithfully,
Cecil Kippins
Former Guyana and West Indies
Test Umpire (1952-1974)
