My friend Bud Lee — distinguished and regionally honoured surgeon, fine sportsman, one of the outstanding Guyanese of his generation — played a large part in my life at one time. When he died last week I was saddened and thought of how greatly such friends matter in one’s life. He was memorable to me.
I cannot remember when I met Bud Lee, how long it was after I arrived in then British Guyana 65 years ago. I remember being told that he could have played cricket for Guyana as a hard-hitting batsman but that he pursued his profession as a priority. When I got to know him on the squash court I could see that — his quickness of eye and movement — a Roy Fredericks before Roy came on the scene. Also when I got to know Bud his reputation as a leading surgeon was established. Steadiness of hand and mind, sureness of touch, concentration on the vital matter at hand — I could see those attributes also.
Bud was in my life especially because there was a long time when we both played squash at the Georgetown Club. We played regularly and I immensely enjoyed our games in friendly rivalry since we were closely matched. He became a very fine player and represented Guyana with distinction — as he did at badminton.
