Remembering Samuel 'Sam' Wilkinson: Respected Sports Journalist and Community Pillar

Respected sports journalist and broadcaster Samuel “Sam” Wilkinson was remembered as an extraordinary father and pillar of the community when he was laid to rest on Wednesday.

Known to generations of listeners as Seven-Up Sam presenting morning five-minute sports commentaries for both CBC and Starcom Network, Wilkinson died after a brief illness at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on June 25, aged 82.

During a funeral service at the Christ Church Parish Church, several tributes attested to his good character, passion for sports and love for family and God. He was remembered as a loyal member of Central Cricket Club and Combermere School alumnus.

Daughter Samantha Wilkinson said her dad was a stickler for journalism, an incredible storyteller and a fun person to be around, adding that he had a warmth about him that gravitated people towards him.

She said: “Daddy was truly a larger-than-life person. He was always full of energy, always eager and excited to engage with people wherever he met them.”

She recalled looking forward to fun-filled Sunday afternoons during the Goodland Gardens Crew limes – as the weekly family gathering was dubbed – which allowed for the opportunity to destress and catch up with relatives.

Speaking about the many feats her dad accomplished and his devotion to his family and God, Samantha Wilkinson described her dad as an extraordinary man.

“In life, we get the chance to meet one or two extraordinary people and we are so blessed, so grateful, that God gave us a super extraordinary person to be our dad,” she said.

Her brother Barry Wilkinson, an accomplished sports broadcaster, said his father was his best friend, mentor and voice coach as he helped him develop his commentary skills.

Almost to the end, his father would give him advice or share his thoughts with him about the radio programmes he hosted.

“The Monday before he died, he called me back to his bed and said, [Barry], take your time when doing commentary. I listened to you last night, you are talking too fast; you are getting carried away with this . . . swipe out T20 cricket,” he said.

Barry also recalled he got into sports commentary in the mid-90s when his father had to travel overseas. He was worried about who would fill in for him for the Sam On Sports radio programme.

Sam, he said, asked him to write a sports report and to deliver it on air and since then he fell in love with commentary.

Describing his dad as a smart dresser, Barry recalled a light family moment involving Sam attending a virtual diocese meeting during the heightened period of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Daddy was dressed in a three-piece suit down to shining shoes to go to a Zoom meeting sitting down,” he said.

During his address, long-time friend Very Reverend Dr Jeffrey Gibson noted that even though he had a passion for sports, especially cricket, Wilkinson remained steadfast in his loyalty to God and demonstrated it throughout his life.

“Loyalty to God was celebrated Sunday by Sunday once Sam was on the island,” he said. “Loyalty to God was also expressed through his association with the wider Anglican family, he was an Anglican true and true and we may say of the traditional vintage.”

He encouraged the packed church to find inspiration from Wilkinson’s faith and loyalty to God amid their grief.

Wilkinson was interred in the Christ Church Parish Cemetery.