Lester 'Father Ken' Crooks (left) takes a photo with Jamaican cricket captain Tamar Lambert after he received a National Badge of Honour for his service to Sports and Community Development at the National Heroes Day function on the lawns of King's House on Monday. - Anthony Minott

Popular Portmore resident Lester Crooks, affectionately called 'Father Ken', was given a badge of honour in the service of Sports and Community Development during the National Heroes Day function on the lawns of King's House on Monday.

Father Ken was one of 23 persons given this award. He is the lifetime manager of the Ken's Wildflower Community Sports Club, founded over 10 years ago, a club known for its exploits in cricket, netball, domino, chest and darts.

Crooks is one of the early builders of modern Portmore, which had its genisis when WIHCON built the community of Independence City in the late 1960s. In the early 1970s, Crooks used to haul tanks for Texaco with his truck, and was approached by Dennis Monteque, a contractor, to haul marl to build roads for the infrastructural work for the Edgewater community.

Father Ken built an establishment at the original Bayside Plaza, in the 1970s, before he acquired a place on Bayside Plaza, and named it Ken's Wildlfower. The facility is now one of the top entertainment hubs in Portmore. He brought street dance to Bayside 30 years ago, and its still a part of the club's entertainment package during Independence.

A special love

Father Ken has a special love for the youths and he formed the Ken's Wildflower U-15 cricket team in 2004, and with coach Sylbert Mitchell at the helm, the team played in the Milo-sponsored Portmore U-15 Cricket League since its inception in 2005.

The junior team last won the cup 2010. "I am happy with the growth of the youngsters and some have even made it as far as the national programme. Currently, we have Junior Stewart and Jamaica captain Tamar Lambert in the side and this is good motivation for the younger players," Crooks said.

The senior team has won the Portmore Metropolitan Cricket League once, but have made it to a number of finals in the past.