16th February 1954 was the auspicious day I entered the world at 29 Dunrobin Avenue, Kingston, Jamaica.
The last of four children, born to Ralph & Enid Holding.
My Father, Ralph a private building contractor, was a keen cricketer and footballer, playing both games for Melbourne Club.
My Mother, Enid, was a Schoolteacher and Head Mistress who trained in both England and Jamaica.
Rheima, Marjorie, Ralph Junior are my Sisters and Brother.
I played my first representative match in 1964 for the Dunrobin area team for a Rankine Cup match at Redhills Oval as an off-spin bowler who could bat a bit.
On the strength of that my Father arranged for Teddy Griffith, son of the famous Barbadian & West Indian fast bowler Herman Griffiths, to coach me.
Herman Griffiths claim to fame was he once bowled Donald Bradman for 0 in a Test at Sydney in 1931. The First test won by the West Indies.
Following in the footsteps of my Father and Brother, I started at one of Jamaica's most illustrious boys' schools, Kingston College in 1965, where my games master, Trevor Parchment, drafted me into the College cricket team.
My sporting prowess flourished at Kingston College, and I still hold the School high jump record for the under 12's. 4' 11 1/4" or 1.504 metres!
My first captain at KC was Sydney Headley youngest son of the great George Headley.
My style of bowling changed from off-spin to fast (what is known in Jamaica as "a pacer in a hurry").
This was where I developed my long run up. The reason? It was the most comfortable way for me to bowl.
In my final year I became Captain with an unbeaten record and had entered the Jamaican National Side in the under 19's.
This was the beginning of a magnificent time in my life.
