Seventeenth century classical music and roses are among the favourites of educator Ralph Jemmott, a new Silver Crown of Merit awardee.
“I listen to a lot of classical music, particularly music of the 17th century, the Baroque period,” he told the WEEKEND NATION.
His favourite composers of this period include Johann Sebastian Bach, Antonio Vivaldi, Arcangelo Corelli and Georg Philipp Telemann, a German composer and multi-instrumentalist.
But Jemmott also enjoys the modern folk and pop music of Bob Dylan, Tracy Chapman, Joan Baez, Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens) and Madonna.
He reads and writes a lot and spends time gardening, among roses, bougainvillea, allamanda, Pride of Barbados and mussaenda.
Jemmott received the national award “for meritorious service as an educator, in particular his contribution as a historian”.
He spent 36 years teaching history and English, mainly at Harrison College.
“It is gratifying to have been offered this national honour,” he said. “It is good to know people in education recognised the contribution, and gratifying that I had some positive impact on the development of this nation.”
Jemmott has been since the late 1970s a commentator on social and educational issues, contributing a wide range of articles to the dailies and the Barbados Business Authority.
He is the author of two books – A History Of Harrison College: A Study Of An Elite Educational Institution In A Colonial Polity and An Uncommon Currency: A Collection Of Essays On Social, Political And Educational Issues. (TY)
