When Scottish-born Arthur (Art) G. Balmer and his American wife Cathie arrived in Bermuda from their home in Silver Spring, Maryland, he was fulfilling a promise he made more than 60 years ago to two black Bermudians he credits with setting him on course for the highly successful life he now enjoys.They were Alma (Champ) Hunt, and Nigel (Chopper) Hazel, who playing as professional cricketers, at Mannofield in Aberdeen revolutionised the game in that part of the world in the 1930s and 1940s.Now in his seventies, tall, sprightly, and easy smiling, Art was born in Aberdeen. His two-storey residence is clearly visible in the cover picture of Mannofield in the book this writer authored, “ALMA! The One and Only ‘Champ’ Hunt”. The famous cricket ground is seen with thousands of spectators guaranteed to attend any time Hunt was playing; and none would leave unless or until he had batted or bowled.Art has been freely talking on this trip about how as a poor and somewhat under-privileged boy he along with youngsters like himself idolised Champ and Chopper, who coached and genuinely befriended them. Champ would first enquire about their school homework before he let them pad-up for a session.Nigel went to Aberdeenshire in 1948 to replace Champ when the latter returned home. After six years, Nigel was contracted to Strathmore Cricket Club, remaining there for 25 years. He played 592 matches for the club, amassing 19,430 runs. They included 28 centuries and two double centuries a 213 not out and 200 not out. That was aside from his spectacular record at Aberdeenshire.Art is convinced he would have missed his true calling in life if it wasn’t for Nigel. He recalled the date, time and place that he looked over his shoulder and promised Chopper he would, as he requested, visit Bermuda some day. He had just finished cleaning the cricketer’s boots and pads as he regularly did every week. Chopper would reward him by taking him to the movies on one of the free tickets he as a celebrity would get.More importantly, it was the inspiration he got from Chopper that put him on course to study for a scholarship he won. Also Art became something of a young star cricketer.Now a qualified architect, Arthur migrated to Washington, D.C., with his American bride, raised a family of two, and among other things has become a world renowned solid waste management consultantFrom the moment he landed at the airport, Arthur talked about not much else other than cricket, Champ and Chopper. It was the celebrated doorman at Hamilton Princess Hotel who put him in real orbit. Upon being made aware of the existence of my book, “Champ”, he hastened to the newest bookstore purchased one for himself and a couple to give away. After spending the night reading and re-reading new memories awakened him.Early the next day he took a solo trip to Somerset and the Somerset Cricket Club and it was only after his return to Hamilton that Art and I were connected.Next Arthur was attending the Young Progressives National Heroes celebration at Hamilton City Hall. There he met Mayor Gosling; also MP Patricia Gordon Pamplin, having read only the night before of the role her father Dr EF Gordon had played in getting Alma to the West Indies and subsequently to Aberdeenshire, facts made known to him as a boy by Chopper Hazel.At City Hall, he taped a television news interview with Trevor Lindsay; and Sunday night Larry Scott had Arthur as a guest during the first hour of his popular Court Radio programme on HOTT 107.5. The balance of his holiday was spent entertaining to dinner, lunch and otherwise close friends of the families of his two idols. They included Alma’s son, Alma Hunt, Jr. and Champ’s daughter Valencia Virgil Manning and Chopper’s niece Patricia Wade of Southampton.Valencia, the mother of the Virgil Twins, Neil and Neville, the May 24 Marathon champions, makes her home in North Carolina. She just happened to be in Bermuda to celebrate her 80th birthday at her cousin Patricia’s residence.Arthur says he will not be satisfied until he sees a Cup Match in Bermuda. He is determined to “give something back to the island” because of the impact Champ and Chopper had on his life. As a start he acquired from the International Sports Shop three separate cricket kits of bats, pads, balls and wickets for donation to deserving schools.