A commemorative bench honouring a late softball coach and stalwart in the Pembroke community was unveiled over the weekend.

The Heard Chapel AME Church on Saturday officially dedicated the bench to Quinton “Tiny” Ming at Pigs Field Playground in Pembroke.

Joan Ming, Mr Ming’s wife, said: “I’m happy and amazed to see him honoured in this way. It reminds us that Tiny still lives on.”

Mr Ming, 83, was well known across the island, often seen bringing newspapers to people around the neighbourhood and teaching youngsters of the area to swim off the rocks on North Shore.

As coach to the softball teams the Devonshire Diamondettes, PCC Royals and the Somerset Eaglettes, he helped to produce some of the island’s top players, sometimes training young people who had never picked up a bat before.

Mrs Ming, who marked 60 years of marriage with her late husband last June, said that he was often the one who opened the playground first thing in the morning and often would be the one to close it.

She added that, despite his nickname, Mr Ming was “a giant of a man” in terms of his personality.

Mrs Ming said: “He was a lot of fun and wouldn’t let anything bother him.

“He was always happy and would make his noise and shout to everybody.

“Everybody knew him as Uncle Tiny, even the children.”

The installation was part of a project by Heard Chapel AME, where Mr Ming was a member, to honour him in the community in which he lived and served.

Bonnie Smith, the church’s trustee and a cousin of Mr Ming, said that Pigs Field Playground was an ideal spot for the memorial because he spent much of his time coaching children on that very field.

She added: “I think he has a very fine legacy, and because of the impact he had on this community, I feel it is a legacy that will live on. His life reflected that.

“He was just a joyous person. You knew he was in the house whenever he was around.”

Ralph Trott II, the pastor of Heard Chapel AME, said that he was approached about the idea in April and was immediately on board.

He explained: “Even though I’m the new pastor here, I’ve been here for about 18 months. I’ve known him since I was 5.

“Of all of the youth leaders, he was one of the best ones because he was always here.

“He was always around — Sunday school picnics, fun nights, midnight walks, Uncle Tiny was always around.”

Mr Ming’s son, Quinton Ming Jr, added: “I think it’s going to do a lot of good.

“It makes it feel like he’s not gone; it shows you that he’s still here.

“When people come here and sit off on the bench, they’ll be able to think about Mr Ming or Uncle Tiny.”

Mr Ming died last November, aged 82. He was survived by his wife and five children — Debrina, Quinton Jr, Earl, Shawn and Craig.