Recognising that significant milestone

Earlier this year, April 7, to be exact, marked fifty years since the formation of the Sion Hill Sports Club, which later transitioned into the Sion Hill Sports and Cultural Club.

Hence, celebrating that significant milestone is indeed a feat for those who, over a half century ago, had the vision that it was necessary to have a single administrative unit within the Sion Hill community.

History recalls that it was incumbent then to bring all the sporting forces together, hence, the various groupings of Athletics, Cricket, Football, Table Tennis and Bodybuilding placed their efforts under one umbrella.

It was the best decision at the time and in 2025, still remains one without regret.

Fittingly, the Jubilee celebrations, which basically hinge on three major events, is being held under the theme: “Honouring the Past; Shaping the Future”.

Such an apt guide as the period of looking back and reminiscing, whilst looking to the years ahead, makes that linkage.

This, as for over three decades, Sion Hill was the model of sporting communities in St Vincent and the Grenadines, predominant for the support in sports, and attendance at funerals.

From ruling the roost in road running; producing a West Indies cricketer with a world record; two national senior Football captains; coaches; national sports administrators; national sportsmen and women in almost every sporting discipline practised here, are just some of the highlight reels.

Not forgetting, a host of referees, umpires, leading groundsmen, a curator- among other personnel, have been part of the production line of the Sion Hill community.

Mention must be made of wins in the National Division One Netball Tournaments that saw Sion Hill going on to take the sub-regional Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) title; national Football champions both at the club and Inter- League levels; national Basketball winners; champions of national Cricket; and Table Tennis singles champions.

In the area of culture, Sion Hill has been a fertile ground, producing calypsonians; renowned mas maskers; a steel band that notched up multiple Panorama titles; Soca artistes; dramatists; ballad singers; gospel artistes; song writers; and more.

Off the field of sports, the club has the distinction of being the lone organization to possess the unmatched bravery and confidence to raffle three motor cars, doing so with immense success. The accumulated list of accomplishments is unlimited.

However, it has not been plain sailing, but compliments must go to committed persons who kept the organization afloat, wading through ripples of turbulence, thus ensuring that fifty years onwards, there is a landmark.

Hopefully, the current administrators of the organization will put the systems in place that come 2075, the Sion Hill Sports and Cultural Club is around to commemorate its centennial.

To do so, they must take to heart, the words of Monsignor Michael Stewart who gave some good advice last Sunday, June 29, at the Church Service at the Church of the Ascension, Sion Hill.

Stewart, who served as the first Secretary of the club when it was officially formed in 1975, advised, “I am saying to you, mentoring and mentorship are important for this community. We have to prepare the next generations. I had a few good influences in my life, people who took me on. It had persons who took an interest in me; hence, I am where I am at the moment. We have to help the young ones, face the challenges of the moment. Look after the young ones, care for them, nurture them”.

Such wise counsel should be heeded, as the country is in need of continuity and succession planning for posterity across the spectrum of our society.

Specifically, it is opportune that all stakeholders of the Sion Hill community make provision to ensure the club is nurtured to fit into the ever-evolving nature of the Vincentian landscape.

In the meantime, as they ponder, best wishes to the Sion Hill Sports and Cultural Club, as they make provision for the next two major events- Sion Hill Day, and the Recognition and Awards Ceremony, set for October and December, 2025, respectively.