January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Wainwright gets his MBE
Cup Match legend awed by experience
The former St. George's wicketkeeper, known for his trademark handkerchief around his neck, said he was awed by the experience of being at Buckingham Palace and meeting the Queen.
But he also shot a word of warning to today's prima donna stars that sacrifices have to be made if they truly want to be successful.
Wainwright was awarded his MBE last year, but held off his trip to England because he wanted to make sure he did it with style and so his whole family could be there.
He travelled to London with his wife Natalie, son Dennis and grandson D-Andre, who just turned six and was now eligible to see the ceremon on July 12. He also went to Lord's to watch England play Pakistan.
"This is to witness cricket at its best, surroundings and atmosphere. You haven't witnessed cricket at its best until you go to Lord's - It's the Mecca of cricket."
Wainwright added: "It was a tremendous experience. Many times I've travelled to London for cricket tours and took the opportunity to look through the fence for the changing of the guard. It was a beautiful experience to see how well disciplined they were. This time I had the pleasure of driving through the gates. It was just mind blowing. I've met the Queen before when she was at Government House, but I never thought I would be at Buckingham Palace. I was very fortunate because she was in."
He said the experience also made him reflect on his long serving career in both sports.
"When you work so hard over the years, these awards are given to you. You feel that all you've done in the past wasn't in vain."
Wainwright said that when players sign-up for national team duty, they have to be prepared to pay the price for representing their country.
"I sacrificed my family and my family sacrificed me, but it's only for a short period. I'm very grateful for my family that they accepted the times I wasn't present knowing that what I was doing was something that I really, really loved."
He said he can understand and appreciate when players beg off from training or representing Bermuda "but they use that as an excuse. In those days we had passion for the sport. We played the game because we loved it. We did everything that was possible to enhance our performance and that requires a lot of sacrifice."
Wainwright said he didn't cheat his employers when he was training. He gave bosses what was due to them, but when it was time to leave work, he gave sport his all.
"I never neglected my work for sport and I didn't neglect sport for work. I was able to separate one from the other. When I was working I didn't think of sport and when I was playing sport I wasn't thinking of work."
Growing up in the Flatts area, Wainwright attended Harrington Sound Primary School. He used to watch the Flatts team and was "dreaming of the day I'm going to be there with the bat, I'm going to be there with the ball; I'm going to be there with the gloves. I kept that dream alive.
"As I got older, I was very fortunate - at a very young age - to have some tips given to me by Alma 'Champ' Hunt. He would bowl to me during the lunch hour. I felt that if I could hit the ball that was a great achievement."
Waiwnright joined the Flatts team at 16, starting off as a slip fielder but eventually moved behind the wicket.
"I got hit in the nose, but I decided that wasn't going to discourage me. I'm going to master this task. I kept training and practising until I got selected."
His Cup Match career spanned from 1957 to 1977 and along the way he set the record for the most dismissals by a wicketkeeper with 37, but it wasn't easy.
"That first year I got my jaw broken in the Pick of the League against St. George's. I was on 35 at the time. I was running between the wickets the fieldsman threw the ball and broke my jaw."
He was out for a couple of weeks, but when he came back he hammered a 109 against Bailey's Bay.
He said in his mind there was "no doubt that Dennis Wainwright is going to be playing on one of the teams. I was on the bench. I was 12th man for St. George's. It bothered me, but when I looked around at the players that were there, I decided these guys were a little more advanced than I was so I had to step my game up."
He said today's players look at being the 12th man as an insult, when it really is an honour.
"If they're not in the first 11, they don't want to be a part of it. You have people who turn down being the 12th man in Cup Match. They say 'If I'm not going to be included in the 11, I don't want to be included.' But it's a privilege to be part of the team as the 12th."
Wainwright said his goal for the next season was to be in the first 11 and trained hard to make it. Sure enough, not only was he selected, but he was also an opening bat. Wainwright ended up a Cup Match fixture for St. George's for the next 20 years.[[In-content Ad]]
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