ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, October 28, 2009 - Sports Minister Patrick Simmons has joined other sports administrators in paying tribute to former Test umpire David Shepherd who died on Wednesday after a long battle with cancer. Simmons said that Shepherd made a big impression on the game with his umpiring skills. He said: "As an umpire he has always been a familiar and much-loved face, not only in England but at cricket grounds around the world. "He was friendly, outgoing and straightforward. He believed cricket was a simple game and he took a straightforward approach to it in his cricket and his umpiring. The Sports Minister said that the cricket world has lost an icon in the game, “one who has character and could be described as a great man”. On behalf of the Government and People of Grenada I would like to extend condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Shepherd. Shepherd umpired his last Test, West Indies against Pakistan, in Kingston, Jamaica, in June 2005 where he was presented with a bat by West Indies Captain Brian Lara.