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LAMBIE, IAN
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LAMBIE, IAN
Image courtesy asawright.org
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BIOGRAPHY
Following a long and distinguished volunteer career as the Secretary of the Trinidad & Tobago Field Naturalist Club, Ian Lambie was nominated and subsequently elected to membership of the Board of Management of the Asa Wright Nature Centre by one of the Centre’s founders, Dr. Joseph Copeland. Ian served as the Secretary to the Board in 1976 and at the Annual General Meeting of 1977 he was unanimously elected to the post of President on the nomination of the out-going President, Dr.Copeland. His nomination was then seconded by the famous wildlife artist and another founder of the Centre, Don Eckleberry. Over the course of his leadership at the Centre, Ian brought great value to the Centre in transforming it into one of the most desirable destinations for naturalists and birdwatchers from throughout the world. In the October 1999 Issue of Audubon magazine |
the Asa Wright Nature Centre was identified as one of the finest Eco-Lodges in the world. The Asa Wright Nature Centre was also selected as the model for a UNDP funded case study on “Eco-tourism as a Strategy for Sustainable Development.”
In January 1989, Ian was appointed Executive President and later, in November 1998, he left the board to be appointed to the newly created post of President/CEO of the organisation, a post that he held until his retirement in 2001.
Ian has been the recipient of many awards including, in 1995, a National Award of Trinidad and Tobago, “The Hummingbird Medal – Gold “ in recognition of his work in Environmental Conservation.
Biography via asawright.org
In January 1989, Ian was appointed Executive President and later, in November 1998, he left the board to be appointed to the newly created post of President/CEO of the organisation, a post that he held until his retirement in 2001.
Ian has been the recipient of many awards including, in 1995, a National Award of Trinidad and Tobago, “The Hummingbird Medal – Gold “ in recognition of his work in Environmental Conservation.
Biography via asawright.org
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MY BELMONT OF THE 1940s : Part 1
I spent my first twenty-three years resident in Belmont with my parents and siblings before relocating to Woodbrook in 1956. Nevertheless, today, more than fifty-seven years later, I still have a special affinity for Belmont.
Belmont has always been a residential area with the majority of residents being middle income Public Servants, office and store clerks and low income blue collar workers, with a smattering of upper middle income households in the north of Belmont. It was only in the 1940s that running water, water closets and wash basins were installed in new houses with the Main House, kitchen and occasionally laundry room being built on the same level.
Up to that time the majority of houses were mainly wooden structures with a Main House on pillars and a detached kitchen at ground level. Many fireplaces were wood burning while some persons used coal-pots for cooking and baking. Kerosene stoves first appeared in the 1940s and cooking with electricity and LPG was introduced much later. Household refrigerators, washing machines, vacuum cleaners and kitchen electrical appliances had not yet arrived. Tap water was not available in the Main House and the shower was often a galvanise enclosed cubicle in the backyard. There were no water closets. The facility was a pit latrine located some distance from the other buildings and there was no toilet paper. In some living rooms hung a photograph of the Sacred Heart, Pope Pius XII, Jesse Owens, Joe Louis, Haile Selassie and occasionally of Learie Constantine.
Without household refrigerators, the matriarch ensured that there were not much left-overs, and whatever there was,it was placed in a safe enclosed with fine meshed wire. Occasionally, for preservation, meats were smoked and fish salted and dried, “taza sale”. The washing of clothes was manually performed using a wooden tub, cut from a pickled meat barrel, a “jooking board”, blue, brown or Sunlight soap. There were no powdered detergents.The addition of Keen’s Oxford Blue made the white clothes whiter.
In the backyard there was a mound of stones for “bleaching” the white clothes and a line for sun –drying. Many backyards had one or more mango, zaboca, breadfruit, guava, sugar apple, soursop, lime or plum trees, whose fruit was shared with the neighbours. There were “yardie” fowls and Muscovy ducks and an old chamber pot with an aloe plant on the dog house.
In the 1940s, the mode of transportation was walking, riding a bicycle or using the Tramcar which was in service until 1954. Trolley-buses ran the Belmont-South Quay route from 1941 to 1958.
At the Transfer station one could transfer to a tramcar going to Four Roads,Diego Martin, or to a St.James Trolley-bus. In 1945 the six-cents taxi emerged, and one of the popular drivers on the Belmont/St.Vincent Street route was Eugene Ducurew with his blue Ford Consul, Registration P 666. Another six-cents taxi driver was Boland Amar who later became a successful businessman and agent for Toyota Vehicles.
Lunches were conveyed on foot, by pipe-smoking “Lillian”from homes in Belmont, to reach the breadwinners at work down-town before noon.
Christmas was the most significant season of family togetherness, feasting and merriment. The house had to be thoroughly cleaned. The house walls and fence “white washed” using coloured ochres for colour and the woodwork painted. The furniture had to be polished and floors had to be scrubbed or polished and shined manually. New curtains had to be sewn and hung, and linoleum purchased for the kitchen floor. Occasionally, an imported Christmas Tree, cut from a live tree, was purchased from Grell and Company. The tree imparted the “Christmas smell” to the house. Residents and visitors to the neighbourhood extended “Merry Christmas” greetings to everyone, and not the recent “Happy Holidays” greetings as introduced in the USA. Christmas was and continues to be about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. We erected our creches at home, and in later years, a Public Creche was erected on the greens at the junction of St.Anns Road and Circular Road every Christmas Season.
The Christmas ham was a dried and smoked pork leg or shoulder, encased in a tar jacket. After removing the jacket it was boiled in a “Pitch oil tin” over a wood burning fire in the backyard. It was then decorated with cloves. Another meat was often baked chicken or turkey, when affordable. The Christmas cake--a black fruit cake made with fruit steeped in rum for many months--was baked in a galvanise “box” placed over a coal pot fire. In country districts mud ovens were still used for baking. Making pastelles was a Christmas tradition and all members of the family participated in the preparation.
Christmas beverages were sorrel, ginger beer, ponche-de-creme, cherry brandy, falurnum, vermouth rum,with gin and whisky when affordable. Apples, pears, and grapes were luxury items available only at Christmastime. I cannot recall whether other exotic fruit were available. Danish biscuits, chocolates, walnuts, brazil nuts and almonds were served.
Boxing Bay was a big day, with horseracing at the Queens Park Savannah. It was a day for picnicking with family and friends from the country who had travelled to town for the occasion. There were games of chance: “Alipang in de bag”, over and under the lucky seven, throwing hoops over bottled beverages and the three card game. Occasionally there was a “Merry-go-round”, and a ferris wheel on the nearby Princes’ Building grounds. Everyone enjoyed the camaraderie and fun.
1st March, 2014
Ian Lambie
I spent my first twenty-three years resident in Belmont with my parents and siblings before relocating to Woodbrook in 1956. Nevertheless, today, more than fifty-seven years later, I still have a special affinity for Belmont.
Belmont has always been a residential area with the majority of residents being middle income Public Servants, office and store clerks and low income blue collar workers, with a smattering of upper middle income households in the north of Belmont. It was only in the 1940s that running water, water closets and wash basins were installed in new houses with the Main House, kitchen and occasionally laundry room being built on the same level.
Up to that time the majority of houses were mainly wooden structures with a Main House on pillars and a detached kitchen at ground level. Many fireplaces were wood burning while some persons used coal-pots for cooking and baking. Kerosene stoves first appeared in the 1940s and cooking with electricity and LPG was introduced much later. Household refrigerators, washing machines, vacuum cleaners and kitchen electrical appliances had not yet arrived. Tap water was not available in the Main House and the shower was often a galvanise enclosed cubicle in the backyard. There were no water closets. The facility was a pit latrine located some distance from the other buildings and there was no toilet paper. In some living rooms hung a photograph of the Sacred Heart, Pope Pius XII, Jesse Owens, Joe Louis, Haile Selassie and occasionally of Learie Constantine.
Without household refrigerators, the matriarch ensured that there were not much left-overs, and whatever there was,it was placed in a safe enclosed with fine meshed wire. Occasionally, for preservation, meats were smoked and fish salted and dried, “taza sale”. The washing of clothes was manually performed using a wooden tub, cut from a pickled meat barrel, a “jooking board”, blue, brown or Sunlight soap. There were no powdered detergents.The addition of Keen’s Oxford Blue made the white clothes whiter.
In the backyard there was a mound of stones for “bleaching” the white clothes and a line for sun –drying. Many backyards had one or more mango, zaboca, breadfruit, guava, sugar apple, soursop, lime or plum trees, whose fruit was shared with the neighbours. There were “yardie” fowls and Muscovy ducks and an old chamber pot with an aloe plant on the dog house.
In the 1940s, the mode of transportation was walking, riding a bicycle or using the Tramcar which was in service until 1954. Trolley-buses ran the Belmont-South Quay route from 1941 to 1958.
At the Transfer station one could transfer to a tramcar going to Four Roads,Diego Martin, or to a St.James Trolley-bus. In 1945 the six-cents taxi emerged, and one of the popular drivers on the Belmont/St.Vincent Street route was Eugene Ducurew with his blue Ford Consul, Registration P 666. Another six-cents taxi driver was Boland Amar who later became a successful businessman and agent for Toyota Vehicles.
Lunches were conveyed on foot, by pipe-smoking “Lillian”from homes in Belmont, to reach the breadwinners at work down-town before noon.
Christmas was the most significant season of family togetherness, feasting and merriment. The house had to be thoroughly cleaned. The house walls and fence “white washed” using coloured ochres for colour and the woodwork painted. The furniture had to be polished and floors had to be scrubbed or polished and shined manually. New curtains had to be sewn and hung, and linoleum purchased for the kitchen floor. Occasionally, an imported Christmas Tree, cut from a live tree, was purchased from Grell and Company. The tree imparted the “Christmas smell” to the house. Residents and visitors to the neighbourhood extended “Merry Christmas” greetings to everyone, and not the recent “Happy Holidays” greetings as introduced in the USA. Christmas was and continues to be about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. We erected our creches at home, and in later years, a Public Creche was erected on the greens at the junction of St.Anns Road and Circular Road every Christmas Season.
The Christmas ham was a dried and smoked pork leg or shoulder, encased in a tar jacket. After removing the jacket it was boiled in a “Pitch oil tin” over a wood burning fire in the backyard. It was then decorated with cloves. Another meat was often baked chicken or turkey, when affordable. The Christmas cake--a black fruit cake made with fruit steeped in rum for many months--was baked in a galvanise “box” placed over a coal pot fire. In country districts mud ovens were still used for baking. Making pastelles was a Christmas tradition and all members of the family participated in the preparation.
Christmas beverages were sorrel, ginger beer, ponche-de-creme, cherry brandy, falurnum, vermouth rum,with gin and whisky when affordable. Apples, pears, and grapes were luxury items available only at Christmastime. I cannot recall whether other exotic fruit were available. Danish biscuits, chocolates, walnuts, brazil nuts and almonds were served.
Boxing Bay was a big day, with horseracing at the Queens Park Savannah. It was a day for picnicking with family and friends from the country who had travelled to town for the occasion. There were games of chance: “Alipang in de bag”, over and under the lucky seven, throwing hoops over bottled beverages and the three card game. Occasionally there was a “Merry-go-round”, and a ferris wheel on the nearby Princes’ Building grounds. Everyone enjoyed the camaraderie and fun.
1st March, 2014
Ian Lambie
MY BELMONT OF THE 1940s : Part 2
Growing-up in Belmont in the 1940s was a pleasurable and memorable experience.
At the end of World War II, Belmont, like other parts of Port-of-Spain experienced the resurgence of Steelbands. After an absence of more than five years, steelbands took to the streets on VE Day. Belmont Steelbands were Rising Sun and Sunland, and later Stepyard, Dem Boys, Dem Fortunates, Dixieland, Tropitones, Stromboli, Chetniks from Gonzales and Bataan from Olton Road.
Rising Sun, was under the leadership of champion soloist Dudley Smith, a member of TASPO, with Flagman“Arthur Tramcar”Andrews. Prior Drakes from Belmont was the flagman for Invaders. The first flagwomen were Yvonne “Bubulups” Smith and Mayfield Camps from “Hell Yard” Steelband at 102 Charlotte Street.
I remember the J’ouvert morning when the revellers in Rising Sun, many waving small tree branches, were chanting an African Song as the band proceeded to down-town.
On Carnival Monday nights, the Belmont boys travelled to Woodbrook to “jump-up”in Invaders, where the girls were. The girls were always chaperoned.
Home for the Tropitones Steelband, which included many St.Mary’s College students, was the Thompson’s backyard in Darceuil Lane. Tropitones caused quite a stir when “dem white boys” first appeared on the streets one Carnival Monday. Four of the Thompson boys became captains with BWIA, and five of their sons are qualified pilots.
Mas men from Belmont included Harry Basilon, Harold Saldenha, Jack Brathwaite, Wayne Berkeley, and metal craftsman Ken Morris, Fancy Sailor Band leaders Jim Harding, and Jason Griffith. Popular Old Mas Bands were William “Sheppy” Shepherd, Keto Rodriguez, John Mollenthiel, the Darceuil’s with Carl Blackman and Hugh Hill.
Important personalities included Sir Ellis Clarke, Sir Hugh Wooding, Sir Alan Reece, Albert Gomes, Francis Prevatt, Jim Rodriguez, Dr.Steve Blizzard, Harold and Kwailan La Borde, Edric Connor, Monica Barnes, James Davis, Dr.George Collymore, Dr.Harry Collymore, Ken Julien, Professor Harry Phelps, Dr.Ralph Phelps, Anthony Jacelon, Frank Stephens, Kathleen“Auntie Kay”Warner, and Jean Coggins.
The best known Sports Clubs were Colts F.C., Dynamos, Summerville, Belmont Dodgers, Luton Town F.C., Riversdale, Siwel and the Belmont Orphanage Boxing Gym under J.M. Douglas, which produced Boswell St.Louis, Easy Boy Francis and the West Indies champion “Gentle Daniel”.
Sport personalities included J.R.N.Cumberbatch and Basil Ince in athletics. Shay Seymour of Colts F.C.who played professionally in England, Geoff Chambers of Maple Club and coach of Dynamos F.C., Conrad Brathwaithe, a member of the only West Indies Soccer Team, Horace Lovelace, Matthew Nunes, Pat Gomez. In cricket: Andy Ganteaume who scored a century on his maiden and only test appearance for the West Indies, Brian Davis, Charlie Davis, Kenny Roberts, Andrew Clarke, and Simpson Guillen who represented both the West Indies and New Zealand, wrestler “Golden Ray Apollon”, soccer and boxing referee George Cumberbatch, Harrison Skeete, World’s Masters Weightlifting Champion for 18 consecutive years until retirement at age 82, Kanaka the groundsman who prepared matting wickets on the Savannah, Mervyn “Pee-Wee” Wong a celebrated cricket statistician.
Netball playing ladies included, the Bernard sisters, the Williams sisters, Jessica Smith, Dulcie Bowen, and Eileen Clunis. Hockey had the Fernandes sisters, the Richards sisters, Nona Boisselle, Irma Davis, and Vilma Spencer; Table Tennis had Marjorie John.
Boyhood activities included the traditional games of pitching marbles, flying kite ,and “spinning top”. There was roller skating, backyard table tennis, weightlifting, and bathing in the rain. Many boys kept tropical fishes, pigeons or rabbits which were fed with grass called “rabbit meat” and with vegetable skins from the kitchen. An inexpensive method of converting waste into edible protein.
Saturday morning activities included cycling to Blue Basin in Diego Martin or to Dean’s Bay in Carenage. During the “mango season” it was visiting upper Belmont Valley Road “for mango”. Another weekend activity was catching “millions”, coscorob, and “jumping guabines” in the upper, unpaved section of the St. Anns River. A Saturday alternative was the 9.30 am or the 1:30 pm show at Olympic Cinema. Admission fee was one penny.
During school vacations children were given a “clean-out” using a “bitter-tasting”brew made from senna leaves, worm grass and other medicinal herbs.
After church, Sunday mornings were often spent playing cricket, kicking ball or flying kite in the Savannah. Sunday afternoons were for casual strolls on the “Pitch Walk” and in the Botanical Gardens, meeting girl friends, purchasing peanuts from “Mile-a-Minute” or listening to music by the Police Band under the baton of Major Rupert Dennison. A tramcar ride around the Savannah or the purchase of an Ice Cream cone for your girlfriend at Queens Park Cafe was a proud moment. A visit to the Dairies on Phillips Street for a Banana Split was a great accomplishment.
Another enjoyable activity was attending the Police Band Concerts at the Botanical Gardens on moonlight nights. What a fun time for all teenagers, boys and the girls who were always chaperoned.
The Cocorite Swamp was not far away to cycle when “crabs were running” The Swamp was “reclaimed” and is now known as Westmoorings.
Doctor’s offices were Dr. Sam Carter, Dr. Brown., Dr. Hayes and Dr. Cyril Joseph, the father of Champion wrestler “Golden Ray Apollon”. At that time doctors made “home visits”.
Churches and places of worship included St. Francis R.C., St.Margaret’s E.C., Belmont Methodist, Gospel Hall, and the Rada Community.
Schools included Belmont Boys’ Intermediate, Providence Girls’, Haig’s Girls High School, Belmont Boys’ R.C., Belmont Girls’ R.C., St.Margaret’s Boys’ E.C., St.Margaret’s Girls’E.C., Belmont Methodist, and St.Thomas High School.
Belmont was a true community that had developed over many generations. There was respect and love for each other and assistance was always available whenever needed. Before 1941 and the arrival of “small islanders” to work on the construction of US Bases, there were few newcomers to Belmont.
Ian Lambie
Growing-up in Belmont in the 1940s was a pleasurable and memorable experience.
At the end of World War II, Belmont, like other parts of Port-of-Spain experienced the resurgence of Steelbands. After an absence of more than five years, steelbands took to the streets on VE Day. Belmont Steelbands were Rising Sun and Sunland, and later Stepyard, Dem Boys, Dem Fortunates, Dixieland, Tropitones, Stromboli, Chetniks from Gonzales and Bataan from Olton Road.
Rising Sun, was under the leadership of champion soloist Dudley Smith, a member of TASPO, with Flagman“Arthur Tramcar”Andrews. Prior Drakes from Belmont was the flagman for Invaders. The first flagwomen were Yvonne “Bubulups” Smith and Mayfield Camps from “Hell Yard” Steelband at 102 Charlotte Street.
I remember the J’ouvert morning when the revellers in Rising Sun, many waving small tree branches, were chanting an African Song as the band proceeded to down-town.
On Carnival Monday nights, the Belmont boys travelled to Woodbrook to “jump-up”in Invaders, where the girls were. The girls were always chaperoned.
Home for the Tropitones Steelband, which included many St.Mary’s College students, was the Thompson’s backyard in Darceuil Lane. Tropitones caused quite a stir when “dem white boys” first appeared on the streets one Carnival Monday. Four of the Thompson boys became captains with BWIA, and five of their sons are qualified pilots.
Mas men from Belmont included Harry Basilon, Harold Saldenha, Jack Brathwaite, Wayne Berkeley, and metal craftsman Ken Morris, Fancy Sailor Band leaders Jim Harding, and Jason Griffith. Popular Old Mas Bands were William “Sheppy” Shepherd, Keto Rodriguez, John Mollenthiel, the Darceuil’s with Carl Blackman and Hugh Hill.
Important personalities included Sir Ellis Clarke, Sir Hugh Wooding, Sir Alan Reece, Albert Gomes, Francis Prevatt, Jim Rodriguez, Dr.Steve Blizzard, Harold and Kwailan La Borde, Edric Connor, Monica Barnes, James Davis, Dr.George Collymore, Dr.Harry Collymore, Ken Julien, Professor Harry Phelps, Dr.Ralph Phelps, Anthony Jacelon, Frank Stephens, Kathleen“Auntie Kay”Warner, and Jean Coggins.
The best known Sports Clubs were Colts F.C., Dynamos, Summerville, Belmont Dodgers, Luton Town F.C., Riversdale, Siwel and the Belmont Orphanage Boxing Gym under J.M. Douglas, which produced Boswell St.Louis, Easy Boy Francis and the West Indies champion “Gentle Daniel”.
Sport personalities included J.R.N.Cumberbatch and Basil Ince in athletics. Shay Seymour of Colts F.C.who played professionally in England, Geoff Chambers of Maple Club and coach of Dynamos F.C., Conrad Brathwaithe, a member of the only West Indies Soccer Team, Horace Lovelace, Matthew Nunes, Pat Gomez. In cricket: Andy Ganteaume who scored a century on his maiden and only test appearance for the West Indies, Brian Davis, Charlie Davis, Kenny Roberts, Andrew Clarke, and Simpson Guillen who represented both the West Indies and New Zealand, wrestler “Golden Ray Apollon”, soccer and boxing referee George Cumberbatch, Harrison Skeete, World’s Masters Weightlifting Champion for 18 consecutive years until retirement at age 82, Kanaka the groundsman who prepared matting wickets on the Savannah, Mervyn “Pee-Wee” Wong a celebrated cricket statistician.
Netball playing ladies included, the Bernard sisters, the Williams sisters, Jessica Smith, Dulcie Bowen, and Eileen Clunis. Hockey had the Fernandes sisters, the Richards sisters, Nona Boisselle, Irma Davis, and Vilma Spencer; Table Tennis had Marjorie John.
Boyhood activities included the traditional games of pitching marbles, flying kite ,and “spinning top”. There was roller skating, backyard table tennis, weightlifting, and bathing in the rain. Many boys kept tropical fishes, pigeons or rabbits which were fed with grass called “rabbit meat” and with vegetable skins from the kitchen. An inexpensive method of converting waste into edible protein.
Saturday morning activities included cycling to Blue Basin in Diego Martin or to Dean’s Bay in Carenage. During the “mango season” it was visiting upper Belmont Valley Road “for mango”. Another weekend activity was catching “millions”, coscorob, and “jumping guabines” in the upper, unpaved section of the St. Anns River. A Saturday alternative was the 9.30 am or the 1:30 pm show at Olympic Cinema. Admission fee was one penny.
During school vacations children were given a “clean-out” using a “bitter-tasting”brew made from senna leaves, worm grass and other medicinal herbs.
After church, Sunday mornings were often spent playing cricket, kicking ball or flying kite in the Savannah. Sunday afternoons were for casual strolls on the “Pitch Walk” and in the Botanical Gardens, meeting girl friends, purchasing peanuts from “Mile-a-Minute” or listening to music by the Police Band under the baton of Major Rupert Dennison. A tramcar ride around the Savannah or the purchase of an Ice Cream cone for your girlfriend at Queens Park Cafe was a proud moment. A visit to the Dairies on Phillips Street for a Banana Split was a great accomplishment.
Another enjoyable activity was attending the Police Band Concerts at the Botanical Gardens on moonlight nights. What a fun time for all teenagers, boys and the girls who were always chaperoned.
The Cocorite Swamp was not far away to cycle when “crabs were running” The Swamp was “reclaimed” and is now known as Westmoorings.
Doctor’s offices were Dr. Sam Carter, Dr. Brown., Dr. Hayes and Dr. Cyril Joseph, the father of Champion wrestler “Golden Ray Apollon”. At that time doctors made “home visits”.
Churches and places of worship included St. Francis R.C., St.Margaret’s E.C., Belmont Methodist, Gospel Hall, and the Rada Community.
Schools included Belmont Boys’ Intermediate, Providence Girls’, Haig’s Girls High School, Belmont Boys’ R.C., Belmont Girls’ R.C., St.Margaret’s Boys’ E.C., St.Margaret’s Girls’E.C., Belmont Methodist, and St.Thomas High School.
Belmont was a true community that had developed over many generations. There was respect and love for each other and assistance was always available whenever needed. Before 1941 and the arrival of “small islanders” to work on the construction of US Bases, there were few newcomers to Belmont.
Ian Lambie
MY BELMONT OF THE 1940s : Part 3
As new residential areas were developed, many Belmont boys who did not migrate to pursue their tertiary education, relocated to Diego Martin, Santa Cruz, Westmoorings and elsewhere, and only a few remained in Belmont.
In the 1940s ,there were Chinese shopkeepers, parlour owners and laundrymen. Some of their children and grandchildren became doctors, accountants, bankers, and manufacturers. One successful family has been the Aleongs of Albrosco Ltd. and Kam Wah Restaurant. The family owns a pig farm and the pork is used to produce hams and sausages, and pork dishes available at the restaurant.
There were Portugese Grocers and Rum Shop owners. On evenings, five Portuguese businessmen, Pereira, Vasconcellos, Gonsalves, Teixeira and Laurenco, regularly occupied a bench on the “Pitch Walk” opposite to St. Anns Road.
Lenny Richmond, of de Castro Lane, brother-in-law of Albert Gomes, migrated to Australia in the 1950s where he opened the first Roti Shop in Sydney. The Ferreira’s of Furness Withy is another successful Portuguese family from Belmont. The patriarch of the Montrichard family was a resident of Darceuil Lane.
Small businessmen included “Chinee” Jacob who owned a fry shop on Erthig Road, selling float, muffins and accras. “Jakie” also made coverty-pochambre and confectionery including halay, kaiser balls, peppermints and paradise plums. His “sweeties” sold at eight for one cent.
Another small scale confectionery manufacturer was “Iron Man” or “Handsome” on Belmont Circular Road.
The Thomas family, who operated a harbadashery business on Charlotte Street, manufactured ice cream cones from their premises at Robinson Ville.
Young Lai prepared preserved plums and mangoes from fruit grown in his backyard at lower Belmont Circular Road.
Sankar, was the first person to sell roti in Belmont. He operated a “coal shop” and was also the village barber. What a combination.
Fresh cows milk was available from the Bordes on lower Pelham Street, from Sammy on Meyler Street, Chadee on Palmiste Street and the Josephs on Sandhurst Street, all of whom maintained dairy cows. Sammy and Chadee also sold grass for feeding goats and other animals.
Leo’s Grill, was an all-night eatery on Observatory Street, owned by Eric Leo Lucilio, where light meals were available. Belmont’s only night club was “Rose Bowl” on upper Belmont Valley Road.
Hired car service was offered by Chippy’s on Jerningham Avenue.
For many years the only haberdashery store was Gooding’s until Holder’s emerged. Both were located on Norfolk Street.
Pharmacies were Piggott’s at the corner of St.Francois Valley and Belmont Circular Roads, Mc Carthy’s and Jorslings on Erthig Road and Quash at lower Belmont Circular Road. Later came Reid’s and David’s both on Norfolk Street.
Piggott’s Corner is a legendary Belmont landmark. For more than 70 years it has been the judging point for Belmont Mas and a location for prayer meetings and as the site for Political Meetings.
Rum Shops were Marquez “Tiger Cat Bar ” and Yeates “Hunters’ Bar”, both on Norfolk Street. Belmont had its share of “Bad johns” including Big Sax, Albert Thompson, “Eddie Boom”, Saxton Rocke and the notorious Michael X; characters such as “Crutch”, “Mary Jackass”, Valmond “Fatman”Jones, Hartley, Rupert Parks, Bob Arneaud, Thomas “Tata Tom” Clifton, Dr.Lance Penco, and Gregory the stunt cyclist.
Before motor vehicles became affordable, transportation of goods from the wharves and from the wholesalers on Broadway was by horse-drawn carts. “Lorries” were imported with only the engine and wheels attached to the chassis. Early Volkswagens cost less than TT$1,000. Coconuts were brought to “town” from Barataria and San Juan on donkey-drawn carts often with milk vendors taking a ride. Price of a coconut: one penny. Before household refrigerators, ice from the Furness Withy factory distributed by an electric wagon was retailed at Ice Depots or by vendors using push-carts. Norville’s was the largest Ice Depot. Fish was sold by vendors from trays carried on their head. Hops bread was sold from push carts and so too were palets, ice cream, ice cream blocks, press(Deffie), snowball, and ground provisions. Chives and herbs from Maraval were brought to “town” by patois–speaking women attired in “Martinique” style dresses and headties. Garbage was collected using mule drawn carts. Race-horses raced clock-wise on the Savannah track.
Many babies were delivered at home by a midwife. Babies’ diapers were made of “chaloupier”, a mixture of zinc, boric and starch was used for diaper rash; a mixture of honey, paregoric and ipecac was used for chest colds. “Quaker” oats and cod-liver oil were administered to children in many homes.
Finally, the achievements of three “grassroots” Belmont “boys”: Carlton Fields, an upholsterer, left his job at B.H.Rose and began a furniture manufacturing business. His venture, Fields Furniture Manufacturing Company was successful, and today Carlton is comfortably retired. Carlton’s brother, Edmund “Eddy Boom” Fields was a “bouncer” at a nightclub on the “Gaza Strip”along Wrightson Road before becoming a successful terrazzo floor layer. On the last occasion that I saw Eddy, he was shipping his yacht to the USA for repairs.
Dr. Tommy Mc Kemzie is a very special and unique achiever who in his early years resided at the Belmont Orphanage. Tommy won a Government Exhibition and entered St.Mary’s College where he won an Island Scholarship. He studied medicine specialising in neuro-surgery. Tommy resides in Winnipeg, Canada.
The friendships which I made with other Belmont teenagers during the 1940s have been maintained over the more than 70 years. I cherish the memories of those times which we spent together having fun.
Ian Lambie
As new residential areas were developed, many Belmont boys who did not migrate to pursue their tertiary education, relocated to Diego Martin, Santa Cruz, Westmoorings and elsewhere, and only a few remained in Belmont.
In the 1940s ,there were Chinese shopkeepers, parlour owners and laundrymen. Some of their children and grandchildren became doctors, accountants, bankers, and manufacturers. One successful family has been the Aleongs of Albrosco Ltd. and Kam Wah Restaurant. The family owns a pig farm and the pork is used to produce hams and sausages, and pork dishes available at the restaurant.
There were Portugese Grocers and Rum Shop owners. On evenings, five Portuguese businessmen, Pereira, Vasconcellos, Gonsalves, Teixeira and Laurenco, regularly occupied a bench on the “Pitch Walk” opposite to St. Anns Road.
Lenny Richmond, of de Castro Lane, brother-in-law of Albert Gomes, migrated to Australia in the 1950s where he opened the first Roti Shop in Sydney. The Ferreira’s of Furness Withy is another successful Portuguese family from Belmont. The patriarch of the Montrichard family was a resident of Darceuil Lane.
Small businessmen included “Chinee” Jacob who owned a fry shop on Erthig Road, selling float, muffins and accras. “Jakie” also made coverty-pochambre and confectionery including halay, kaiser balls, peppermints and paradise plums. His “sweeties” sold at eight for one cent.
Another small scale confectionery manufacturer was “Iron Man” or “Handsome” on Belmont Circular Road.
The Thomas family, who operated a harbadashery business on Charlotte Street, manufactured ice cream cones from their premises at Robinson Ville.
Young Lai prepared preserved plums and mangoes from fruit grown in his backyard at lower Belmont Circular Road.
Sankar, was the first person to sell roti in Belmont. He operated a “coal shop” and was also the village barber. What a combination.
Fresh cows milk was available from the Bordes on lower Pelham Street, from Sammy on Meyler Street, Chadee on Palmiste Street and the Josephs on Sandhurst Street, all of whom maintained dairy cows. Sammy and Chadee also sold grass for feeding goats and other animals.
Leo’s Grill, was an all-night eatery on Observatory Street, owned by Eric Leo Lucilio, where light meals were available. Belmont’s only night club was “Rose Bowl” on upper Belmont Valley Road.
Hired car service was offered by Chippy’s on Jerningham Avenue.
For many years the only haberdashery store was Gooding’s until Holder’s emerged. Both were located on Norfolk Street.
Pharmacies were Piggott’s at the corner of St.Francois Valley and Belmont Circular Roads, Mc Carthy’s and Jorslings on Erthig Road and Quash at lower Belmont Circular Road. Later came Reid’s and David’s both on Norfolk Street.
Piggott’s Corner is a legendary Belmont landmark. For more than 70 years it has been the judging point for Belmont Mas and a location for prayer meetings and as the site for Political Meetings.
Rum Shops were Marquez “Tiger Cat Bar ” and Yeates “Hunters’ Bar”, both on Norfolk Street. Belmont had its share of “Bad johns” including Big Sax, Albert Thompson, “Eddie Boom”, Saxton Rocke and the notorious Michael X; characters such as “Crutch”, “Mary Jackass”, Valmond “Fatman”Jones, Hartley, Rupert Parks, Bob Arneaud, Thomas “Tata Tom” Clifton, Dr.Lance Penco, and Gregory the stunt cyclist.
Before motor vehicles became affordable, transportation of goods from the wharves and from the wholesalers on Broadway was by horse-drawn carts. “Lorries” were imported with only the engine and wheels attached to the chassis. Early Volkswagens cost less than TT$1,000. Coconuts were brought to “town” from Barataria and San Juan on donkey-drawn carts often with milk vendors taking a ride. Price of a coconut: one penny. Before household refrigerators, ice from the Furness Withy factory distributed by an electric wagon was retailed at Ice Depots or by vendors using push-carts. Norville’s was the largest Ice Depot. Fish was sold by vendors from trays carried on their head. Hops bread was sold from push carts and so too were palets, ice cream, ice cream blocks, press(Deffie), snowball, and ground provisions. Chives and herbs from Maraval were brought to “town” by patois–speaking women attired in “Martinique” style dresses and headties. Garbage was collected using mule drawn carts. Race-horses raced clock-wise on the Savannah track.
Many babies were delivered at home by a midwife. Babies’ diapers were made of “chaloupier”, a mixture of zinc, boric and starch was used for diaper rash; a mixture of honey, paregoric and ipecac was used for chest colds. “Quaker” oats and cod-liver oil were administered to children in many homes.
Finally, the achievements of three “grassroots” Belmont “boys”: Carlton Fields, an upholsterer, left his job at B.H.Rose and began a furniture manufacturing business. His venture, Fields Furniture Manufacturing Company was successful, and today Carlton is comfortably retired. Carlton’s brother, Edmund “Eddy Boom” Fields was a “bouncer” at a nightclub on the “Gaza Strip”along Wrightson Road before becoming a successful terrazzo floor layer. On the last occasion that I saw Eddy, he was shipping his yacht to the USA for repairs.
Dr. Tommy Mc Kemzie is a very special and unique achiever who in his early years resided at the Belmont Orphanage. Tommy won a Government Exhibition and entered St.Mary’s College where he won an Island Scholarship. He studied medicine specialising in neuro-surgery. Tommy resides in Winnipeg, Canada.
The friendships which I made with other Belmont teenagers during the 1940s have been maintained over the more than 70 years. I cherish the memories of those times which we spent together having fun.
Ian Lambie
MY BELMONT OF THE 1940s : Part 4
In 1942, we were aware that American troops had arrived in Trinidad. At first they lived under tents erected on recently reclaimed land south of Wrightson Road, in wooden buildings constructed on the Pompeii Savannah in St.Clair, and at lower Edwards Street,on the site of today’s Financial Complex. Many men from the “small islands” arrived to work on the construction of the Naval Base at Chaguaramas and the Military and Air Force Base at Cumuto, later named Fort Reid with its Waller Air Force Base. Royal Navy personnel were housed at “Benbow” on Wrightson Road and the Fleet Air Arm at Piarco.
The residents of Trinidad and Tobago were never informed about the Military and Naval activities on our islands nor the encounters with German submarines in the surrounding seas. It was not until some forty years later that publications by Gaylord Kelshall gave information of the number of vessels sunk by German U-boats in our waters, and the number of U-boats which were destroyed by aircraft based in Trinidad.
On the night of February 18th, 1942 the German submarine U 161 entered the Gulf of Paria and torpedoed two vessels in the Port-of-Spain Harbour. With the arrival of the US Forces, the Dragon’s Mouth was sealed off using submarine nets and fortified with gun emplacements. Hundreds of submarine-seeking aircraft of the US Air Force, the US Navy and the British Fleet Air Arm were deployed in Trinidad. Today we are familiar with Waller Field, Camden Field, and Carlsen Field, all of which were airfields developed during World War II. There was a small airfield at Mucurapo and an emergency field at Galera. Flying Boats operated out of Chaguaramas.
On the night of August 5th, 1944, the “Island Queen”, an Inter-island schooner with sixty-seven holiday-makers and crew aboard, disappeared during a trip from Grenada to St.Vincent. Lost was Joe King who resided with the Thompson family at Darceuil Lane. “Uncle Joe”was Mrs.Thompson’s brother.
Many Trini-born young men ,including Peter and Quintin Bynoe from Belmont, enlisted in the RAF,i n the Royal Navy, in the West Indies Regiment, British, and Canadian Armies.
Of the 250 young men from Trinidad and Tobago who served in the RAF during the war, 52 were lost, including David Merry, son of Canon Merry of the St. Margaret’s Church. Many Trinidad born young ladies also served in the ATS in the UK.
To most of us, the war meant no Carnival, which was banned, and basic food items were rationed. I remember joining the queues at Crown and at M.I. bakeries, both on Charlotte Street, to purchase hops bread. Government Lands were distributed to farmers to grow more food. We spent many nights in darkness as house lights were often prohibited.
Large Belmont families included the La Barries with 17 children,Durhams with 16 children ,Patinos with 14, Maximins with 13, “Indian” Josephs with 12 and the Araujos with 10. There were other large families. Belmont youths who became R.C. priests included Michael Pascall, Albert Clarke, Hillary Clarke, Cyril Ross, Rex de Four, and Carlton Hoskins. Frank Caesar became an Anglican priest. Maria Clarke became a nun. There was an active CYO in the community with the parish priest being the popular Father O’Sullivan.
In the 1940s, many schools were known by the name of their respective headmaster. These included de Four School (Belmont Boys’Intermediate); Caesar School(Belmont Boys’ R.C.); Grosvenor School (Richmond Street Boys’); Roberts School ( Nelson Street Boys’); Granderson School (Eastern Boys’ Government or Market School); Akal School (Woodbrook Presbyterian); Akal School (San Juan Presbyterian); Franklyn School (St.Agnes E.C.); Comma School (Moulton Hall Methodist); James School (Arima Boys’Government); Henry School (San Fernando Methodist); Walters School (San Fernando Boys’R.C.); Ellis School(Ideal High School); Young School (St.Thomas High School);Murray School (Osmond High School); Holder School (Progressive Educational Institute); Miss Graham School (Haig’s High School); Burke School (Burke’s Academy); Alexis School (Pamphillian High School).
In 1938 thirteen Government Exhibitions were offered (free placement in Secondary Schools); in 1944 there were 24 and in 1945 there were 28 free places. There was great competition for these free places. At both Belmont Intermediate and at Tranquillity Boys’ schools, there was a special Exhibition Class that received extra tuition on mornings, afternoons, and on Saturday mornings when the girls of the Exhibition Class at Tranquillity Girls’ joined the boys for “lessons” given, free of charge, by Mr.Fitz Worme and Mr. Oswald Romilly. Tranquillity enjoyed a high success rate in this annual Exhibition Examination, now known as the S.E.A.
In the 1940s, policemen who were engaged in daily foot patrols knew the residents and the residents knew them. They were a part of our Belmont Community. The friendships which were made between Belmont teenagers and two young Tobago-born Constables, Philipian Young and Harold St.Louis who were 22 years of age when first stationed at Belmont ,was sustained up to the passing of Philipian and continues to the present time with Harold, now aged 86.
Unfortunately, today, with limited foot patrols, and shorter shift hours, policemen and policewomen are strangers in their respective jurisdictions. In Trinidad and Tobago we call that progress. These “strangers” who have distanced themselves from the residents receive little information or co-operation, thus making their job more difficult.
Corporal punishment was administered for acts of indiscipline in prison ,in schools and at home while convicted murderers were executed on a Tuesday morning. These are now considered to be inhumane acts. Rampant indiscipline in our country must be eradicated.
Ian Lambie
In 1942, we were aware that American troops had arrived in Trinidad. At first they lived under tents erected on recently reclaimed land south of Wrightson Road, in wooden buildings constructed on the Pompeii Savannah in St.Clair, and at lower Edwards Street,on the site of today’s Financial Complex. Many men from the “small islands” arrived to work on the construction of the Naval Base at Chaguaramas and the Military and Air Force Base at Cumuto, later named Fort Reid with its Waller Air Force Base. Royal Navy personnel were housed at “Benbow” on Wrightson Road and the Fleet Air Arm at Piarco.
The residents of Trinidad and Tobago were never informed about the Military and Naval activities on our islands nor the encounters with German submarines in the surrounding seas. It was not until some forty years later that publications by Gaylord Kelshall gave information of the number of vessels sunk by German U-boats in our waters, and the number of U-boats which were destroyed by aircraft based in Trinidad.
On the night of February 18th, 1942 the German submarine U 161 entered the Gulf of Paria and torpedoed two vessels in the Port-of-Spain Harbour. With the arrival of the US Forces, the Dragon’s Mouth was sealed off using submarine nets and fortified with gun emplacements. Hundreds of submarine-seeking aircraft of the US Air Force, the US Navy and the British Fleet Air Arm were deployed in Trinidad. Today we are familiar with Waller Field, Camden Field, and Carlsen Field, all of which were airfields developed during World War II. There was a small airfield at Mucurapo and an emergency field at Galera. Flying Boats operated out of Chaguaramas.
On the night of August 5th, 1944, the “Island Queen”, an Inter-island schooner with sixty-seven holiday-makers and crew aboard, disappeared during a trip from Grenada to St.Vincent. Lost was Joe King who resided with the Thompson family at Darceuil Lane. “Uncle Joe”was Mrs.Thompson’s brother.
Many Trini-born young men ,including Peter and Quintin Bynoe from Belmont, enlisted in the RAF,i n the Royal Navy, in the West Indies Regiment, British, and Canadian Armies.
Of the 250 young men from Trinidad and Tobago who served in the RAF during the war, 52 were lost, including David Merry, son of Canon Merry of the St. Margaret’s Church. Many Trinidad born young ladies also served in the ATS in the UK.
To most of us, the war meant no Carnival, which was banned, and basic food items were rationed. I remember joining the queues at Crown and at M.I. bakeries, both on Charlotte Street, to purchase hops bread. Government Lands were distributed to farmers to grow more food. We spent many nights in darkness as house lights were often prohibited.
Large Belmont families included the La Barries with 17 children,Durhams with 16 children ,Patinos with 14, Maximins with 13, “Indian” Josephs with 12 and the Araujos with 10. There were other large families. Belmont youths who became R.C. priests included Michael Pascall, Albert Clarke, Hillary Clarke, Cyril Ross, Rex de Four, and Carlton Hoskins. Frank Caesar became an Anglican priest. Maria Clarke became a nun. There was an active CYO in the community with the parish priest being the popular Father O’Sullivan.
In the 1940s, many schools were known by the name of their respective headmaster. These included de Four School (Belmont Boys’Intermediate); Caesar School(Belmont Boys’ R.C.); Grosvenor School (Richmond Street Boys’); Roberts School ( Nelson Street Boys’); Granderson School (Eastern Boys’ Government or Market School); Akal School (Woodbrook Presbyterian); Akal School (San Juan Presbyterian); Franklyn School (St.Agnes E.C.); Comma School (Moulton Hall Methodist); James School (Arima Boys’Government); Henry School (San Fernando Methodist); Walters School (San Fernando Boys’R.C.); Ellis School(Ideal High School); Young School (St.Thomas High School);Murray School (Osmond High School); Holder School (Progressive Educational Institute); Miss Graham School (Haig’s High School); Burke School (Burke’s Academy); Alexis School (Pamphillian High School).
In 1938 thirteen Government Exhibitions were offered (free placement in Secondary Schools); in 1944 there were 24 and in 1945 there were 28 free places. There was great competition for these free places. At both Belmont Intermediate and at Tranquillity Boys’ schools, there was a special Exhibition Class that received extra tuition on mornings, afternoons, and on Saturday mornings when the girls of the Exhibition Class at Tranquillity Girls’ joined the boys for “lessons” given, free of charge, by Mr.Fitz Worme and Mr. Oswald Romilly. Tranquillity enjoyed a high success rate in this annual Exhibition Examination, now known as the S.E.A.
In the 1940s, policemen who were engaged in daily foot patrols knew the residents and the residents knew them. They were a part of our Belmont Community. The friendships which were made between Belmont teenagers and two young Tobago-born Constables, Philipian Young and Harold St.Louis who were 22 years of age when first stationed at Belmont ,was sustained up to the passing of Philipian and continues to the present time with Harold, now aged 86.
Unfortunately, today, with limited foot patrols, and shorter shift hours, policemen and policewomen are strangers in their respective jurisdictions. In Trinidad and Tobago we call that progress. These “strangers” who have distanced themselves from the residents receive little information or co-operation, thus making their job more difficult.
Corporal punishment was administered for acts of indiscipline in prison ,in schools and at home while convicted murderers were executed on a Tuesday morning. These are now considered to be inhumane acts. Rampant indiscipline in our country must be eradicated.
Ian Lambie
