London, May 14 (IANS/CMC): West Indies cricket legend, Michael Holding was presented with a ‘Lifetime Achievement’ award by the University of East London (UEL) at its annual Sports Awards over the weekend.

Holding, who was feared by batsman and often referred to by the chilling moniker ‘Whispering Death’, is regarded by many as the greatest fast bowler of all time.

“It’s a great honour to be receiving this award," Holding told a packed audience at the Emirates Stadium - home of Arsenal Football Club. “It means a lot."

Holding was a key player in the legendary West Indies squad which dominated international cricket at a time of global race riots and apartheid, with an exceptional winning streak that lasted from the mid-'70s to the early-'90s.

“When I was a kid, my mother always told me ‘make sure you get a piece of paper behind your name, and now I’m a doctor,” Holding said.

“It’s a great feeling to know that the University of East London wants to give me this award.”

High Commissioner of Jamaica Aloun Ndombet-Assamba and Olympian rowing star Mark Hunter were among officials in attendance.

The University of East London, which celebrated an unprecedented year in sports, says it’s aiming to be the number one university in London for sport by 2015.

UEL has over 28,000 students from over 120 countries.