TOP PRIORITY! In that position he listed his contribution to the restructuring of the Barbados Industrial Development Corporation’s (BIDC) Handicraft Division.
The observation came from Vere Browne, a former manager, when I invited him to join me in The Rocking Chair.
But before dealing with that point in his life, we covered a lot of ground.
For instance, all these years I thought that he was a product of St Philip.
Vere explained: “I was born at College Savannah, St John, and my father Charles was a well known tailor.
He recalled: “After elementary school I sat the entrance examination for Lodge School and came first. But, as the system was in those days, on compassionate grounds, I was requested to give way to the runner-up whose father had died suddenly. For me to remain at Lodge my father paid the term’s fees of $28 and change.
“But what goes around comes around. Two years later when I was then 14, my father died suddenly and I was given the final two years of what was originally a 4-year scholarship.” Vere played cricket for the Division 1 team but remembers only one bad experience, which could have affected his psyche if he had permitted it to do so.
He said: “On this day in question the boys were kicking football. At one stage the ball went out of play and I recovered it. Just then a white boy – I will not call his name right now – ran up to me and said ‘Put it down’. I ignored him and he kicked me in my [behind]!
“But when it came to student support, I had a lot of friends due to my involvement in sports. One of them was a guy by the name of Sam Hall from Bayfield, St Philip. Sam saw when this guy kicked me in my [behind]. He came over to me, who by now was feeling very humiliated. He reported the incident to my supporters who included E.R. ‘Boss’ Barrow and other very bright and fair-minded students. The matter was investigated and action taken.”
With reference to the staff, Vere recalled that ‘Fab’ Hoyos (later Sir Alexander) Hoyos had the greatest influence on the students. “He would spend time talking with us. ‘Fab’ clearly understood that we were underprivileged.
“He would spend time trying to have us take pride in ourselves. He had a son, Michael, who was a very good sprinter.
“He would talk not only about pride and dignity but about pride and honesty. I did not share his political views, but ‘Fab’ had always been my friend. I would spend time in the [school] library with Mr Hoyos.
That Lodge School connection was maintained immediately after graduating.
Vere: “On leaving Lodge my friend Frank Farnum told me that DaCosta Edwards needed a teacher at the Federal High School. I went there to teach from September 1958 to February 1959.
“One day I was playing road cricket when David Simmons [now Sir David], yet another of my Lodge School friends, came up to me, touched me on my shoulder and softly said, ‘A games teacher is needed at Dodds [an institution for Boys where his father Ken was the principal for many years].
Vere recalled: “David was just about getting ready to leave for England to study Law. I took his advice and headed for Dodds. I got the job.”