by COLIN JAMES in ANTIGUA

SIR VIVIAN RICHARDS, a cricket hero all over the world, has been accorded the highest award of his native land.

The Antigua and Barbuda Government yesterday conferred on him the title of National Hero on the occasion of the country's 25th anniversary of independence.

The former West Indies captain will now join educator Nellie Robinson - the founder of a primary school - and former Prime Minister Vere Bird Snr, as the only recipents of the Order of National Hero award.

Sir Viv was among 54 people honoured yesterday morning at a ceremony at the Antigua Recreation Ground, in the heart of the capital. Among the list of honourees was Allen Stanford, the Texan billionaire, who received a knighthood.

A privilege

"I'm very happy and privileged," a beaming Sir Vivian told the DAILY NATION. "I'm not going to go head over heels with the award. I'm still going to be the humble 'Viv' as people know

me as. I'll still be the same person.

"My slippers are still very important to me. When I need to be in the right attire, I think I'll make the necessary adjustment when I think it's necessary."

In his amazing cricket career, Sir Viv made 8 540 runs in 121 Test matches, with 24 centuries. It was his "lion-hearted" approach and charisma which also won him many fans.

"When I set my goals, there were a lot of people who knocked at the door and said it could not happen, the things you wanted to achieve in life, and I'm still rolling along," he said.

"I felt when I retired long ago it would have been a situation for me to pack things up, sit in the hammock and do all the things that people do when they retire. It hasn't quite happened like that. That role seemed to reverse somewhat. I'm in a capacity where things are happening more . . . and why not?"