A FORMER Worcestershire County cricket star threatened with deportation has thanked the people of Worcester for their support in helping him get permission to stay in the UK for another three years.
Hartley Alleyne said he was delighted the Home Office gave him a stay of execution after an ongoing saga that saw the fast bowler lose his job as a cricket coach for youngsters.
Mr Alleyne said the letters of support he received from his former club and colleagues was a source of great strength during some difficult times.
"I have been very pleased with the support from Worcestershire, my old county, and I'm very happy with the result," he said.
"I have always got on well with everyone at Worcester.
"I know Vanburn Holder (former Worcestershire and West Indies player), various committee members and some top colleagues and when I had problems they got right onto it and gave me assistance which was very helpful and now it's brilliant."
Mr Alleyne, aged 50, said the last six months of his life had been difficult.
"I haven't been able to do anything to be honest," he said. "I have just been waiting for the result and obviously I have been a bit down with it. I was just waiting, and waiting and waiting."
During that time Mr Alleyne said he completed an NVQ 3 certificate, which he thinks might have persuaded the Home Office to let him stay.
"I don't know why they let me stay," he said. "I'm just thankful and praise everyone for the assistance - it was much needed. I have lived here since 1978 and I haven't missed a year. I was just 21-years-old when I arrived from Barbados - a boy - and I stayed here to help the youngsters at cricket."
Mr Alleyne said he has already been in contact with St Edmund's School in Canterbury, near to where he now lives, to see if he can get his old coaching job back he held since 2005 until May last year.
Meanwhile, Mr Alleyne said he hoped to visit New Road, Worcester, to watch his old club when the cricket season gets underway in April. "I like to come back to Worcestershire, it's a nice county," he said. "I spent a lot of good times in Worcester."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article