News we have a special programme on the impact of west indian cricket players in lancashire. This is a story about the biggest black stars. Very fast. We are talking about the best players in the world. These guys were clamouring to come and play in lancashire. When east meets west. Reni east lancashire meeting the funny reni east lancashire meeting the fu n ny west reni east lancashire meeting the funny west indies. What a marvellous stroke. For the biggest name ever to play in the Lancashire League, there was a welcome to match. It was a special time in a home away from home. A story that starts with reticence and racism. They had been fed with the idea that black people are not fed with the idea that black people a re not really fed with the idea that black people are not really people, that they are less and that they are not very bright. And ends with lifelong friendships with antigua and aptly, burnley and barbados. We have been friends for 50 years and every Christmas Morning we speak to each other. Two continents, two cultures. United by one spirit. Other. Two continents, two cultures. United by one spiriti other. Two continents, two cultures. United by one spirit. I can remember every player i played with 57 years ago. It means that they are in my heart. And unlikely cricketing love affair. But how did it happen and what impact did it have . Hidden beneath brooding hills lies the towns and villages of east lancashire. Until this year, the lancashire. Until this year, the Lancashire League has been unchanged since 1897. 14 Lancashire League has been unchanged since 1897. 1a clubs, 20 miles apart. Local rivalry runs high and the chance to see the west indians in action along with the local lads creates an atmosphere. It is probably the most famous Cricket League in the world. It would be the only thing in summer. It was a social occasion. People came to the games in theirfinery. Social occasion. People came to the games in their finery. Top hats, tails, collars come at ties, ladies in lovely dresses and hats. Each tea m in lovely dresses and hats. Each team was made up of ten local amateurs and one paid professional. Everton weekes, he is the only player ever to have scored five consecutive centuries in test matches. You would see these professionals Walking Around town. They were celebrities. They really were. 0h, they were celebrities. They really were. Oh, look, heres the pro. Heres the road it was terrific. Pro was the start. The big draw. Paid to perform in front of thousands. The professional must lead. If you have a professional in the league that does not lead then the league that does not lead then the team will not do very well. played with a tan, i cannot let them down. Pro is the centre, he is the team. Until 1928, the pro down. Pro is the centre, he is the team. Until1928, the pro had meant usually an englishman but occasionally an australian or a south african. That changed when a trinidadian was hired. He was a magical player to watch. A daemon of a bowler. And more than either of those things, the most wonderful field that i think anybody had ever seen. Nelson, heavily in debt, had taken a seen. Nelson, heavily in debt, had ta ken a chance seen. Nelson, heavily in debt, had taken a chance with constant time as a cricketer and curiosity would draw the crowds. He had taken a leap into the crowds. He had taken a leap into the on loan, unsure how would be received. My parents had a very hard time being accepted in the town. I think they were quite unhappy. People used to pass on the other side of the road when they saw them coming, kind of thing. Many people tried. They ignore them, more or less. How did you and yourfamily find the people of nelson . At first, the strangeness, what we discovered later on to be strangeness we thought it was prejudiced. We took that as true. Schoolchildren were peeping in the window to see him through his living room window. They we re through his living room window. They were lining up to go and see him because they had never seen a black man. When he went to nelson and he shook hands with people used to do this with their hand to see if it rubbed off. Ignored in the street, but on the cricket field, constant time was a huge attraction. When nelson came, the crowd for the game was 7000. Nothing has been seen like it on this ground for all sins. In the 1930s it on this ground for all sins. In the 19305 it it on this ground for all sins. In the 1930s it was packed. Absolutely packed. My father, my uncles, my neighbours, they all came straight from work to get a seat. They even came from yorkshire to watch him. The stands were packed. But after a year, constant time was ready to pack his bags. It was very difficult to dislike him. Some people did. He said for two pins he would have gone back to trinidad. It was my mother who decided we are not moving. We are staying here. He would have gone mad. He would have gone home after the first year. But she said no and thatis the first year. But she said no and that is when they took me up. Aged two, gloria had moved tojoin her pa rents two, gloria had moved tojoin her parents in nelson. The family ended up parents in nelson. The family ended up staying for 20 years. We used to call her the only fly in the ointment. She was the only dark student at the secondary school. What happened was that the people who accepted you, accepted you. Those who didnt, did and they ignored you. People at school ignored you. People at school ignored me and pretended i was not there. I rememberthem distinctly. I ignored them. You ignore me, i ignored them. You ignore me, i ignore you. That is all. But her father was far from ignored. Ignore you. That is all. But her father was farfrom ignored. Despite the great depression, crowds continued to rise and so did co nsta nt continued to rise and so did constant times contracts. For six months on a saturday afternoon you could see cricket played as well as anywhere in the world. Constant time was probably the best paid sportsman in the country, including footballers and boxes and jockeys and other cricketers. Constant time led nelson to seven titles in nine seasons. Led nelson to seven titles in nine seasons. 0nce taking all ten wickets in an innings for only ten runs. No one in nelson was crossing the road to avoid him any more. My father was a very friendly person. So if he wanted to stop and talk, he would stop and talk. I used to hate going out with him because he was stopped every minute. He was stopped to talk to somebody. But that is how it was. And, also, he grew very fond of the people. Constantine went on to become a barrister, a night and then britains first black peer. Baron constant sign of nelson. He tackled racism whenever he found it Baron Constantine of nelson. He also paved the way for generations of west indian professionals to play in lancashire. Being the first coloured professional cricketer to come to Lancashire League, i had a job to do to satisfy people that i was as human as they were so injuries and in fact i carried a burden. He broke the barriers. He had something to do with the lot of the ones who came. Not only the west indians, the indians as well. And here come the west indians. This sightscreen that i am leaning on now, he started his run up here. Sightscreen that i am leaning on now, he started his run up harem was so now, he started his run up harem was so farand now, he started his run up harem was so far and he was so athletic. He was a huge man. A big gold crucifix swinging side to side as he ran up. Getting closer and closer, accelerating until he reached full pelt at the crease. By 1960, the league was full of brilliant batsmen and furious fast bowlers. Wes hall arrived in 1960. He made quite an impression. He came down here. I will never forget. The first night he walked down here he came across this beach to the net behind my shoulder here. He had a west indian cap on. All his whites on a long raincoat down to his ankles. He walked across and we were looking and thinking that is wes hall. That was the defining moment in my life. I was away from home, i had to live with strangers, i had to perform and i had to be the type of person that people would like to be around. It was the first time that i had ever lived for six months with people other than my family. I was like a fly in coconut ice cream. Very, very noticeable. The first time i ever heard and out, i learned the language. Within two or three months i was the greatest fish in lancashire. I was quite grateful, you know . That they were so good to me. Wears is in the middle. A colossus. And he was good to them. Especially one talented teenager at the club. David lloyd. He would be the club. David lloyd. He would be the guy who got me hooked on the game. And the rest of the juniors hira the time. He gave me my first cricket bat. Everton weekes. Hira the time. He gave me my first cricket bat. Everton weekes. We call was little overlap shed. 12 of the leaks 1a call was little overlap shed. 12 of the lea ks 1a teams call was little overlap shed. 12 of the leaks 1a teams had a west indian pro. So many professionals around. In manchester we would go over to decide where we had our friends, we would have a big hook up. Every saturday you had a test game. I was either a great batsmen 01 game. I was either a great batsmen ora game. I was either a great batsmen or a great bowler. Wes hall was one ofa or a great bowler. Wes hall was one of a battery of quick bowlers doctors around the league. Most potent was Charlie Griffith at burnley. In 1964 he took a League Record 144 wickets in a season, nearly 100 lbw or clean bowled. Yes, he is our. Out. Nearly 100 lbw or clean bowled. Yes, he is our. Out. Many of those amateurs had never come up against fa st amateurs had never come up against fast bowling and before you got there you could see that they were quite nervous. Some batsmen came in and you could see the fear on his face. Obviously they were thinking i hope i get to work on monday morning. If you did not get out of the way then you would get hit and could get hurt. All of the senior lab would look at the fixtures and book their holidays when you are up against one of the big bowlers. They would have a fortnight off. There was real apprehension. And fear. Does not matter what sort of wicket you produce when you let go at this pace. There was fear among opponents but in their own dressing rooms there was only friendship. When you are doing well, everybody is upbeat. I think that is what i took to burnley. We had a great time every week. They used to biometrics. We had a great time. The people were fantastic. He was the professional, i was the amateur, but we remained friends now for 50 odd years and every Christmas Morning we speak to each other and he usually tells me that its a lovely morning, go on to the beach, owing to see his racehorses, or im telling him that its either snowing 01 telling him that its either snowing or pouring with rain. Ive got these friends from 50 years until now. That speaks a hell of a lot. Whenever i see them they talk about that. They said we created history that. They said we created history that will never go away. Thats wes. Thats me. You are the handsome man at the end . Jimmy used to open the bowling with wes. He has alzheimers but the memories of his collea g u es alzheimers but the memories of his colleagues remain strong. Some days he might not remember how to switch the television on with remote but the television on with remote but the minute a cricketers name is mentioned it all comes flooding back. We will always have a special pa rt back. We will always have a special part in our heart for west wall. He was a part in our heart for west wall. He wasa giant part in our heart for west wall. He was a giant in the game will be remembered. Wes hall. Its nice thatjim has the photograph and items in books where they both mention him in the publications and thats wonderful as a prompt for him and it makes him happy, yes. Jim came to barbados about ten years ago. I was so pleased to reciprocate all the good thing is he had done for me. I took into kensington oval. Isaid for me. I took into kensington oval. I said you go down to that end, cause this end is mine. I was so happy to have him there. Theyre on my heart, you know . I pray for them, i talk about them all the time. I often remind people of brotherly love and peace and things like that. Commentator we are really seeing something here, i can tell you. The most fearsome batsmen of his era, the most famous cricketer in the world. In the mid 80s no one in the gate was bigger than the viv richards. Yet in 1987 he signed up for a season in a small village. Coming from a very small islands, wished and was the ideal sort of environment for me. Rishton. It wasnt as sunny as where i grew up. When i first read it was so gloomy andl when i first read it was so gloomy and i couldnt understand how critical be played in this part of the world, but anything goes in that pa rt of the world, but anything goes in that part of the world when it comes to cricket here. And that went for vivs arrival in the Lancashire League. It was quite a spectacular landing. I remember still at this spot looking in the distance and seeing this little lot get bigger and bigger and eventually this massive helicopter landed on the field there at the place erupted. Helicopter dropping him off right by the wicket after an overnight flight from the west indies and for the biggest name to ever play in the Lancashire League there was a welcome to match. What do you think you can do for the club . Illjust do what ive done for teams lake somerset. Add a bit of spice, i hope. One of the things i remembered more than anything else, the hailstones. Viv warmed up the runs with 87. The balls were disappearing from the grounds. His teammates were suddenly schering addressing dressing room with the captain of the west indies. The worlds best player was sitting next to us and i was 30 years old or something. Player was sitting next to us and i was 30 years old or somethingm was 30 years old or somethingm was like i knew them for a number of yea rs. Was like i knew them for a number of years. Everything clicked and i guess its because of the personalities. Richards reignited the heyday of the league as crowds flocked to see him. We were so lucky. To hit rishton twice at home, with great weather, and get a couple of thousand people, that must have set us up for a few years. The big debate was, how many pies do we need . David lyons was still in his 40s. Viv was a daunting process. He was as good as it gets the and i was as good as it gets the and i was bowling from, i thought, this is not big enough for us two bang, there was another 0ut not big enough for us two bang, there was another out of the ground again. Away from the pitch, viv threw himself into lancashire life. I found out about the cuisine you have in that part of the world. Mushy peas and pie. At the end of the day, i am an honorary lancaster member, so im going to let it work. If viv was introduced to mushy peas, the captains if viv was introduced to mushy peas, the ca ptains family learnt if viv was introduced to mushy peas, the captains family learnt about caribbean cuisine. I thought, viv richards is coming in my house it was a great summer. Richards is coming in my house it was a great summer. His wife used to come with food and his favourite was monkfish and she used to cook it on this hobby. It was magnificent. I was playing with viv richards for five months of the year. Absolutely unbelievable. Everybody was supposed to get their day in the sun and mine was saying that i captain viv richards. They played a huge part. From the first night i went to david and his wifes house, it wasnt all about mushy peas and pie, but humour. They were very good people. Theres some change for my ticket. The Lancashire Leagues best days are behind it. Grounds are fraction of the full houses which wants were packed. Constantine had thousands clamouring to see him here. Today at times it can bejust clamouring to see him here. Today at times it can be just a few men and a dog. I dont dig anybody would prepare and that is the same as it was prepare and that is the same as it was pretend. You get a handful of people watching the games and the golden era of the great professionalism on. West indian professionals a re professionalism on. West indian professionals are rarity these days. The depth of talent in caribbean cricketers declined. South africans are now more popular as a choice amongst league clubs. 12 months a yearin amongst league clubs. 12 months a year in the indian ipl there are so many other demands, its hard to get there when they are their peak now. Yet one thing hasnt changed. These cricket clubs remain crucial parts of the community. The league is one of the community. The league is one of the community. The league is one of the 25 years old, so that history is always there, which at the club you go to. You learn a lot from other peoples coaches. Its a good experience. Nelson has often been betrayed as a divided town. A place where whites and asians live separate lives. Last British National Party Council in the country represents part of this town. But there is no divide at its cricket club. We have had problems within the town, of segregation, of people not mixing, at the club has really helped with that and i am sure we can use it as an example for other organisations in the area, to show how weve helped integrate our society and our communities to come together just through one society and our communities to come togetherjust through one sport. Nearly 90 years after constant time came to nelson, the memories remain constantine. Not just came to nelson, the memories remain constantine. Notjust on the walls of the clubhouse but in the value of its members. We are very proud of constantine and what he did and what he stood for. People here have the same kind of attitude as what he had. 4000 miles away in the hills of trinidads capital, constantines hills of trinidads capital, consta ntines great grandchildren are learning about his impact. Thats my dad. Yeah, thats our house. My number was that . Three. Its a nice house. It was a small house. I did not realise until much later what contribution the family had made. And the links between east lancashire and the west indies live on. Ill always be grateful to nelson and in many ways nelson will a lwa ys nelson and in many ways nelson will always be home. You know, i am only 80, so if theres one thing going to it is to return to accrington at some time. Its notjust the memories of what you are comp leash in county cricket, test match cricket, its all this sort of stuff. But that was something very special. Hello. Some of us may get off to a fine start on saturday morning, but by looking at the big picture you can work out why that is not going to last. Several weather systems queueing up in the atlantic to come our way, so we will all have rain at some stage of the weekend and the winds will be picking up as well. This is how it looks for early rises. Wales and north west england with cloud and outbreaks of rain. A lot of cloud in the rest of england. Showers spreading east as the day goes on. A lot of fine weather in Northern Ireland, with variable cloud and sunny spells. After morning showers in scotland, the afternoon looks drier, with fewer showers, more sunshine. Some sunny spells in Northern England as well. But for the midlands, east anglia, south east england, likely to be a fair amount of cloud around and an increased chance of showers spreading east in the afternoon. For wales and Western Areas of england, we keep a lot of cloud throughout and the rain gathers again by Late Afternoon and into the evening. Another spell of wet weather moves in and covers much of the uk as we go through saturday night and into sunday morning. The wind picking up as well. In Northern Ireland we have some especially heavy rain coming in by the end of saturday night. A mild start to sunday and a mild sunday to come. It wont feel like that in the wind. Cloud around. A wet morning the Northern Ireland. Heavy rain spreading across scotland. For the rest of england and wales there will be some outbreaks spreading eastwards as the day goes on. Of course it is windy on sunday. Coastal gales in the west. The wet weather clearing through much of scotland and Northern Ireland as it brightens up. A few showers around, but the wind will get even stronger, especially in scotland. So it will be very blustery in scotland for the great scottish and expect a lot of rain in the morning, clearing in the afternoon. There will be some rain, although not as persistent as the rain in scotland, but some outbreaks moving through sunday. But its close to this low pressure going into monday where we expect some really nasty wind for a time, especially in parts of scotland. The further north you are, severe gales, up to 70 mph. Gusts in the Northern England could be up to 50 60 mph, so that could be disruptive. Showers towards the north west and some spells of persistent rain into northwest scotland. So the weekend starts on a fine note for some, but we will all have rain moving in and the winds picking up as well, especially sunday and into monday. This is bbc news. Our top stories president Trumps Health secretary quits after using expensive private planes for government business. But after tom price, could others follow . Mass rallies in catalonia in support of sundays planned independence referendum. Spain says the vote violates the constitution and wont ahead. 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