04082022 WEEKEND

Weekend

Friday, April 8, 2022

arts entertainment history animals home music gardening food CONCH

REVOLUTION Pages 08+09

In the frame

Naturalist uses photography to help preserve the beauty of the Bahamas pages 04 + 05

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Friday, April 8, 2022

entertainment

Grammywinning a cappella group Pentatonix to perform in the Bahamas

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entatonix, the platinum-selling a cappella group, is set add some excitement to the Easter weekend. The group from Texas will be performing live at Atlantis’ Casuarina Beach on Saturday, April 16,

as part of the resort’s LIVE series.

Pentatonix will be performing new music as well as some of their classic group hits, including “Sing,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and “Hallelujah.”

A portion of the proceeds from the concert will support the Atlantis Blue Project Foundation, a nonprofit with the mission of saving marine life and their extraordinary habitats throughout the Bahamas and surrounding Caribbean seas.

“We are thrilled to welcome Pentatonix to our slice of paradise this Spring,” said Audrey Oswell, president and managing director of Atlantis, Paradise Island. “We are passionate about bringing exclusive events and live entertainment directly to our guests and community, as a way for them to connect more intimately with artists they know and love. Pentatonix creates lifelong memories for their extensive fan base, so partnering with them

for this special concert spectacular was a natural fit for us.”

Tickets are now on sale via Atlantis LIVE and start at $79.

A three-time Grammy Award recipient, Pentatonix is a global a cappella sensation that has sold more than 10 million albums worldwide and performed for hundreds of thousands of fans at their sold-out shows across the globe. Their YouTube channel boasts over 19 million subscribers, yielding more than 5 billion video views. Pentatonix has had two No 1 albums on Billboard’s Top 200 Chart – 2015’s gold-certified self-titled album and the two-time platinum “That’s Christmas To Me”.

The group has received multiple RIAA certifications for multi-platinum, platinum, gold-selling albums, singles, a Daytime Emmy nomination, starred in three-holiday specials on NBC, and appeared in the feature film “Pitch Perfect 2”.

CELEB SIGHTING A supermodel getaway

Alessandra Ambrosio enjoys her time at Baha Mar (Photo_Instagram @carolinecrowdesigns)

Supermodel, actress, entrepreneur and new SKIMS campaign star Alessandra Ambrosio recently enjoyed a luxurious getaway to Baha Mar in Nassau. She was accompanied by close family members and friends.

While on holiday, Alessandra was spotted lounging poolside at the Beach Club overlooking Cable Beach, and enjoyed the water rides at the resort’s newest luxury water park, Baha Bay. In the evening, Alessandra and the group dined at contemporary steakhouse Carna, where they indulged in dishes by legendary butcher Dario Cecchini, including the Tuscan

porterhouse, Japanese snowaged wagyu A5 and truffle mac n’ cheese.

Before leaving the Bahamas, Alessandra spent some time meeting Baha Mar’s resident flamingos, including Lynden, Baha and Indy, during a private encounter.

Alessandra’s latest venture has been joining elite models like Heidi Klum, Tyra Banks and Candice Swanepoel to promote Kim Kardashian’s shapewear brand SKIMS. (Photo_Instagram @alessandraambrosio)

04 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, April 8, 2022

interview

Elijah SANDS

Passionate about protecting our natural resources, this naturalist and conservationist got the opportunity to help an adventure company show visitors a different side of the islands. He Cara Hunt why it’s so important to document the beauty of the Bahamas.

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he islands of the Bahamas have thousands of stories to tell, and Elijah Sands is more than happy to tell them, to both people here at home and all over the world.

As the senior communications director at the Bahamas National Trust (BNT), it his job to handle all the external communications for the organisation as well as handle their social media presence.

The BNT is a non-profit organisation that manages the country’s 32 national parks.

The Bahamas national park system protects many unique features, critical habitats and endangered species. Protected areas include the world’s largest breeding colony of Caribbean flamingos, miles of underwater cave systems, and the first no-take marine reserves in the wider Caribbean.

But Eli’s genuine love for his country – and his passion for photography – has made his work at the BNT more a labour of love than a job.

“I first connected with the Bahamas National Trust back in 2015 when someone came and spoke at a career fair and I was able to attend their eco summer camp in Andros,” he told Tribune Weekend.

This experience helped develop Eli’s enthusiasm for the outdoors and led him to pursue similar opportunities, such as when he volunteered at a sea turtle internship.

In his final year of high school in 2016, Eli was instrumental in setting up a special extracurricular nature programme at Anatol Rodgers where students would meet weekly and then every three weeks to have a field trip.

Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has made it difficult to continue the programme.

Eli’s love of nature and his affiliation with the BNT continued after graduation when he enrolled in the Youth Environmental Corp programme, which ultimately led to his getting a job at the BNT. His duties include photographing BNT sites and their visitors, and also filming videos of these areas. It was something that he naturally fell into.

“There was a camera lying around and I had always, like most kids, been curious and had an interest in creating things and photography and media. So, I started taking pictures in a more official capacity for my role in communications,” he said.

“What I love about photography is that we really focus on conservation awareness, and a lot of times it helps for people see what we have and what we need to conserve, and so storytelling is so important and photography is a

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Friday, April 8, 2022

“Our national parks are incredible spaces and we need people to tell their stories. I want my images to inspire people to come and see these spaces and to want to take care of them.” way to do that. Our national parks are incredible spaces and we need people to tell their stories. I want my images to inspire people to come and see these spaces and to want to take care of them.”

Eli does more than tell stories though; he is also a certified naturalist.

He explained that this means he is qualified to not only take people on nature tours, but he can educate and explain to them in greater detail what they are seeing and experiencing.

During a recent experience, Eli had the opportunity to help a team from the luxury adventure company Linblad Expeditions develop a unique tour that focuses on the hidden gems of the Bahamas.

“Linblad specialises in unique experiences that go off the beaten track while providing luxury adventure cruising,” Eli explained.

This weekend in history April 8 • In 563 BC, it is believed, Gautama Buddha is born. The founder of Buddhism is thought to have lived in India from 563 BC to 483 BC. However, modern era that scholars determined that he was more likely born in May rather than April.

• In 1820, the famous Ancient Greek statue Venus de Milo is discovered on the Aegean island of Milos.

The company’s founder, Lars-Eric Linblad, was a Swedish-American entrepreneur and explorer who pioneered tourism to many remote and exotic parts of the world.

He led the first tourist expedition to Antarctica in 1966 in a chartered Argentine navy ship, and for many years operated his own vessel, the ms Lindblad Explorer, in the region.

Eli helped the company, which has also partnered with National Geographic, to create the Bahamian itinerary and also served on the maiden voyage as a tour guide.

Highlights of the voyage include snorkelling in Turtle Sound, nature walks in Acklins, searching for iguanas in Mayaguana, kayaking in Long Island, and visits to the Island School in Eleuthera and Conception Island.

“The trip stays away from those places with heavy tourist traffic and instead focuses on the national beauty of the southern Bahamas. Very few people see these areas,” he said.

Eco-tourism and nature tourism are very important to the country moving forward, he explained.

“Eco tourism focuses more on presenting the traditional tourism product in ways that are less harmful to the environment, whereas nature tourism focuses on experiences that are based outside in the natural environment,” he said.

“We have always boasted of our sun, sand and sea as the driving force of our tourism product.

And so, we have to protect that. They need to remain pristine.

“After COVID and lockdowns, we are seeing that people want to travel and they particularly want to travel where they can reconnect with nature. People will want to visit countries that make this a priority. To do this, we need to get people involved in support conservation laws. This is a very big topic of discussion.”

And it is the story Eli will continue to tell.

Standing at 6ft 8, the statue was created sometime between 150 and 125 BC and is believed to depict Venus, the Roman counterpart of the goddess Aphrodite. The statue remains on display at the Louvre Museum in Paris.

April 10

April 9 • In 1483, Edward V, aged 12, succeeds his father Edward IV as king of England. However, he is never crowned. After being incarcerated in the Tower of London with his younger brother Richard, both disappear and are presumed murdered. They become an enduring mystery known as the “Princes in the Tower”.

• In 1768, in what is considered the first act of physical resistance to the British in the American colonies, John Hancock refuses two British customs officers to go below deck of his ship. As one of the Founding Fathers, Hancock is best remembered for his large and stylish signature on the United States Declaration of Independence.

• In 1846, engineering technician Walter Hunt patents the safety pin in New York. He also came up with the lockstitch sewing machine, a forerunner of the Winchester repeating rifle, a knife sharpener and a hard-coal burning stove, among many other inventions. Thinking little of the safety pin, however, he sold the rights for $400 (roughly $14,000 in today’s money) to a company to be able to pay a man to whom he owed $15.

• In 1970, the press interprets a solo album announcement by Paul McCartney as the breakup of legendary rock band The Beatles. While the self-interview doesn’t offer a definitive statement regarding a permanent breakup, it is taken as such by the media and the world, thereby bringing to an end an unprecedented musical success story that started in 1960 in Liverpool, England, and took the world by storm.

4 Answer; 5 Eminent; 6 Contraction; 7 Destroyed; 10 Dissipation; 11 Undecided; 14 Erected; 16 Frills; 19 Sorts; 21 Cue.

procure trendy range (3,2,4)

06 | The Tribune | Weekend

Pwn c l D moA

Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so the each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Conceptis Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday

● The Target uses words in the main body of Chambers 21st Century Dictionary (1999 edition)

HOW many words of four letters or more can you make from the letters shown here? in making a word, each letter may be used once only. each must contain the centre letter and there must be at least one nine-letter word. no plurals.

Verb forms ending in s permitted’.

TODAY’S TARGET Good 15; very good 23; excellent 30 (or more). Solution tomorrow

Yesterday’s call 0907 181 2585 Sudoku for Answer today’s target solution *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge.

BATTLESHIPS CRYPTIC PUZZLE Across 1 One taking part in an emergency (10) 6 He doesn’t go out with his mates (4) 10 Made nest sound perhaps a strain to hear (5) 11 Turns round and ejects a sailor (4,5) 12 If I react strangely it may be a trick (8) 13 Expedition has only half a tent (5) 15 Falling behind in providing winter insulation? (7) 17 Made ends meet sailorfashion? (7) 19 Enormous disaster struck it (7) 21 Contempt for a futile action (7) 22 Respond - to an encore call? (5) 24 No variety in the numbers crawling (3,5) 27 She serves up hot claret (9) 28 Something fragrant wafting back from lime leaves (5) 29 Retiring American politician in the car (4) 30 Clearly determined to provide an early source of pleasure (7,3)

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Yesterday’s Easy Solution

Down 1 It’s simply not fair (4) Across: 1 Phantom, 5 Logic, 2 Out-and-out position for an 8 Apennines, 9 Eel, 10 High, 12 Low water, 14 Inland, actor (9) 15 Arrest, 17 Deprived, 18 Drab, 3 They have a central 21 Peg, 22 Euphrates, 24 Husky, meeting place (5) 25 Runaway.

4 Putting an end to Down: 1 Peach, 2 Age, 3 Tune, baksheesh (7) 4 Mentor, 5 Last word, 6 Great 5 Turns red; this shows Bear, 7 Culprit, 11 Galapagos, 13 Entirety, 14 In depth, uncertainty (7) 16 Pepper, 19 Bossy, 20 Grin, 7 Get over being 23 Tow. annoyed (5) 8 Comparatively good times when gambling takes place? (6,4) 9 A church member in Yesterday’s Cryptic Solution general (8) 14 Kitchen accessories Across: 1 Fig leaf, 5 Excel, subsequently put into 8 Fashioned, 9 Pea, 10 Hack, 12 Neon sign, 14 Causes, bundles (5,5) 15 Second, 17 Overturn, 16 Any in let out naturally (8) 18 Onus, 21 Ski, 22 Landscape, 18 Gloomy supporters will if 24 Dusty, 25 Headman. their team’s doing badly (9) Down: 1 Fifth, 2 Gas, 3 Exit, 20 It goes on incessantly even 4 Finder, 5 Endanger, when idle (7) 6 Capricorn, 7 Learned, 11 Crude oils, 13 Mentally, 14 Crossed, 21 They should know how to 16 Branch, 19 Sheen, 20 Asia, prepare a good meal (7) 23 Aim. 23 Such panic may be started by fire or burglary (5) 25 Last of the series in home games (5) 26 Brand new moneymaking concern (4) Across Down 1 Complete failure 1 In equal shares (4) 6 7 8 (5-5) 2 Flippant (9) 6 To lob (4) 9 3 Country of 10 General southern Arabia reprobation (5) (5) 11 Leaving no 4 Motivate (7) loophole (9) 5 Severe suffering 13 12 Occur at same (7) 7 Musical drama (5) time (8) 8 Fixed and 13 Besides (5) 18 unchangeable 15 To quarantine (7) (3,2,5) 17 Consideration (7) 9 Approved of (2,6) 19 To storm (7) 14 Not reliably 21 Unfailing (7) successful (3-3-4) 22 Old-fashioned (5) 16 Plentiful (8) 24 Famous (8) 18 Unofficial news 25 source (9) 27 Suggest obliquely 20 Row of 26 (9) connected 28 Fine soft sheer 28 houses (7) fabric (5) 21 Admit to (7) 29 Originate (4) 23 Small portion (5) 30 Legendary marine 25 Falter (5) monster (3,7) 26 Critical trial (4)

EASY PUZZLE

FIND where the fleet of ships shown is hidden in the grid. The numbers to the right of and below the grid indicate how many of the squares in that row are filled in with ships or parts of ships. The ships do not touch each other, even diagonally. Some squares have been filled in to start you off.

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The Tribune | Weekend | 07

Friday, April 8, 2022

art

Out of the fire

BEAUTY FROM ASHES

By Victoria Sarne

T

he Pink House on Cumberland Street, long abandoned and an ugly remnant of neglect, sadly met its demise by fire recently; set ablaze by an unknown hand. It was built in the 1700s and actively occupied for centuries until more recent times. However, it escaped being torn down for a parking lot, unlike its not so lucky neighbours to the north and south of it.

The Billabong Pub to the north was, in earlier times, the Armoury for Fort Nassau (the current British Colonial Hilton), but now long gone for a parking lot. Hillside House Gallery & Studio to the south once boasted a main house and a separate back kitchen and almost suffered the same fate as the Armoury.

It survived for hundreds of years but the main house, in more recent times, was eventually demolished, again for a parking facility, whilst the back kitchen building was subsequently used for commercial purposes.

Luckily. that building survived, and Antonius Roberts, a prominent artist and conservationist, has become its custodian. He thoughtfully and intentionally reconstructed it, preserving the original structure and reclaiming the parking space for a garden. Under his caring hands some of the original beams, fireplace and floor were preserved on the interior and remains of the original wall in the garden area are still visible. The property was transformed into Hillside House Gallery & Studio, now celebrating its ten year anniversary. It is a space in the heart of busy traffic-laden Nassau for special events or quiet enjoyment: the public can pause and take refreshments in the garden and art lovers can enjoy the gallery.

Although the Pink House had survived for 300 years, eventually chronic neglect took its toll and it became just another ugly, derelict building in Nassau of which there are are far too many in a similar dilapidated state. Sadly, this house held many memories and secrets that made it a more than interesting site had it been maintained. It had a far more colourful history than other houses on the street, full of daily sip-sip worthy stories as it was known to be a notorious house of ill-repute, host to gamblers, scoundrels and many other disreputable and dubious characters. Today, the ugly shell of the Pink House is an eyesore, an open wound on Cumberland Street, all that fascinating history lost, forgotten and gone forever - and

New artwork by Antonius Roberts made from the charred beams of the Pink House on Cumberland Street.

the fate of the remains of the burnt-out building uncertain.

What is certain is, however unlikely, Antonius Roberts recognised that out of the ashes, it could give us one last and lasting thing to remember, its history not completely lost as the flames yielded up their unexpected treasure: some of the burned and blackened beams, ready to be rescued. Under his creative hands the original wood was ready to be salvaged, restored and re-imagined. Ever conscious of preserving and restoring historical sites and creating “sacred spaces”, he has created enduring memories by replicating the lives once lived there, the charred wood re-imagined in an inspired representation, merging the past and the present, a gift to the future.

Now in his possession, they have been transformed into things of beauty - the beams have a new and lasting life in this his latest work: a unique series which he has called “Beauty from Ashes: Mercies Endureth Forever”.

The ruins of the Pink House, once a historic house of ill repute.

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Friday, April 8, 2022

entertainment

Local artist engages Grammy-nominated musician for new hype anthem

By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net

B

ahamian singer-songwriter Ava believes she has the perfect weapon in her arsenal to finally hit the big time: a Grammy Award-nominated session musician.

For her debut single, “All or Nothing”, Ava decided to work with bassist Jamaal Andrews, who has collaborated with international stars like rapper T I as well as gospel performers Donnie McClurkin and William McDowell.

She believes this move will help her single become a certified hit.

The song, which Ava describes as an “infectious hype anthem” that “draws listeners in with punchy bass melodies and cut-throat lyrics”, was released last month. It has steadily been making the rounds on local and international airwaves.

Ava is thrilled for listeners to hear the song, which has also been

released on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music.

A series of unfortunate events in Ava’s life served as the inspiration

for the song, whose lyrics speak to the “blood, sweat and tears” she shed along the way.

“After a series of disappointments – seeing my father imprisoned, home evictions – chasing my dreams started to feel like a fever dream.

One day, I had an epiphany and realised that I had misplaced my self-confidence. I had accidentally become frozen in my trauma. It made me so sad that I wrote a song about it. Eventually, it spun into a hype anthem, a pick- yourself-backup song. I hope ‘All or Nothing’ encourages listeners to push themselves beyond their perceived limits,” she said.

“All Or Nothing” is the lead single off of Ava’s upcoming EP, “Where Angels Go To Cry,” which features more songs penned and co-produced

by Ava. Ava, who was born in Grand Bahama, showed interest in music the performing arts early on. She frequently played leading roles in her high school’s musical productions.

As she grew up and gained confidence, she eventually began experimenting with writing and composing music. Her first demo, recorded at the age of 12, was called “Puzzle of Love” and gained the attention of international superstar Flo Rida in 2015. It landed her a recording deal under his label, International Music Group.

But in order to develop her craft, Ava made the decision to temporarily step away from the industry and instead further her music education at Troy University in Alabama, studying Classical Voice, Performance, Music Production and Marketing.

The multi-instrumentalist and independent recording artist mixes pop, rap, urban hip-hop and R&B in awe work.

Ava currently splits her time between the Bahamas and Nashville, Tennessee, producing and recording the songs.

For more information about the artist, contact bookavamusix@ gmail.com.

Miss Bahamas Universe declares April “Confidence Month”

By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net

MISS Bahamas Universe Chantel O’Brian has declared April to be “Confidence Month”, as she launched a campaign that seeks to encourage young girls to beef up their self-assurance and poise.

“Confidence Month” is taking place under the theme “I’m That Girl”.

It focuses on young girls and women being aware or reminded of their unique capabilities.

The event is being presented under The Final Crown, Chantel’s social media blog, in collaboration with The Leading Ladies Project.

For the entire month of April, Chantel is asking girls and women to partake in a 30-day self-confidence challenge.

To promote this message of confidence, the beauty queen will embark on school tours. Chantel is also planning a Confidence Conference.

In fact, the inspiration for “Confidence Month” came from last year’s virtual Confidence Conference, held under the theme “Perfection is a Myth.”

Having more than a decade of pageant experience and making history at the 70th Miss Universe competition last November, Chantel considers herself somewhat of an expert in the area of confidence.

It was her inner self-assurance, she said, that helped to propel her to the top 10 in the international pageant.

Chantel made history as the first Bahamian to reach the top ten of the competition since the Bahamas acquired the Miss Universe licence in 1958. “Confidence is always a challenge. For me, coming from really humble beginnings and going

into the pageant world, there were so many different factors where I did have a lack of confidence.

Maybe I didn’t think I would reach the potential I could have reached.

It was important for me to exercise who I was on a daily basis. That meant taking time to myself, meditating, and also having a very serious relationship with God, which sounds cliché but it is the truth. I know that I am able to do what I did because of the potential that was gifted and stored in me,” she said.

Chanel’s hopes that this campaign will help to increase confidence in young girls and women.

“We are faced with so many external factors and being comfortable with oneself, to love yourself for who you really are, and to have a high self-esteem no matter how people may view you or how you are perceived, is important. Women and girls must know they have what takes

to excel in what they do.

Having this confidence changes the way we do life,” she said.

Chantel said she knows many young girls may get caught up in various situations where they are made to question themselves and their purpose.

She hopes “Confidence Month” can help them with that.

“We are encouraging persons to follow @thefinalcrown if they’d like to participate. There will be a prize for the lucky lady who completes the full 30 days (who has to tag us and screenshot their postings each day),” she said.

12 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, April 8, 2022

literary lives – Dick Francis Jockey with royal favour becomes best-selling

CRIME WRITER

Sir Christopher Ondaatje remembers the British steeplechase jockey and crime writer whose novels centre on horse racing in England. He came to prominence in 1956 as jockey to Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, riding her horse Devon Loch which fell when close to winning the Grand National.

“Writing a novel proved to be the hardest, most self-analyzing task I had ever attempted, far worse than an autobiography: and its rewards were greater than I expected.”

– Dick Francis Richard Stanley Francis was born in Coedcanlas, Pembrokeshire, Wales on October 31, 1920. He was the son of a jockey and stable manager. He grew up in Maidenhead in Berkshire, England, and left school at fifteen without any qualifications, intending to be a jockey. By the time he was eighteen, in 1938, he started training horses.

During the Second World War, Francis volunteered, hoping to join the cavalry, but was redirected to the Royal Air Force as a member of the ground crew, but later as a fighter pilot. He received an emergency commission as a pilot officer in 1944 and was promoted to a flying officer in 1945. He spent most of his six-year service career in Africa.

In October 1945, he met Mary Margaret Brenchley at a cousin’s wedding. It was love at first sight and, although their families were not happy with their engagement, the couple married in June 1947 in London. She was a clever woman (important for the end of this biography) and graduated with a degree in English and French from London University when she was nineteen. She later worked as a publisher’s reader. She contracted polio when she was pregnant with her first child. They had two sons, Merrick (born 1950) and Felix (born 1953).

Dick Francis in New York in 2000. (Photo: Jim Cooper, Associated Press) drive him out of the sport.

After leaving the RAF in 1946, Dick Francis became a highly successful jockey, reaching celebrity status. He won 350 races, and became champion jockey in the 1953-1954 season – in steeplechasing – not in flat racing.

“A jump jockey has to throw his heart over the fence – and then go over and catch it.”

– Dick Francis Francis would break his collarbone nine times in his riding career – a recurrent injury that would eventually

From 1953 to 1957, Francis was jockey to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.

His best and most famous moment as a jockey came while riding the Queen Mother’s horse Devon Loch in the 1956 Grand National, when the horse inexplicably jumped an imaginary hurdle when only a few yards from the finishing line – a race that the horse would have won.

Decades later, Francis considered losing that race as his greatest disappointment. He called it “a

disaster of massive proportions” and the racing world continues to question why Devon Loch behaved in such a mysterious manner.

“Was ‘Devon Loch’ nobbled? ... the most likely explanation seems to have been a gigantic fart which was so explosive as to prostrate the unluckily flatulent beast.

“Francis retired, having ridden 2,305 races and 345 winners. In his retirement he began writing insider and tipster columns for the ‘Sunday Express’, a line of work (pitifully paid) which he continued until 1973.”

The Tribune | Weekend | 13

Friday, April 8, 2022

the act of writing, but it became a drug – starting again the next summer with the next idea and the next novel. With success he made money, but never thought of retiring until his wife Mary died in 2000. After that date, his writing stopped – only to be continued by their son Felix Francis. Dick Francis died in 2010.

– John Sutherland Lives of the Novelists, 2011 Francis’s first book was his autobiography, The Sport of Kings (1957). The book’s success prompted the Sunday Express to hire him as their racing correspondent. His first thriller, Dead Cert, published in 1962, established a special niche for him in the world of horse racing, which would continue until 2001, only missing out one year, 1998, during which he published a short story collection.

“All his novels are narrated by a male hero. Although this hero begins with a handicap, whether physical or psychological, (bereavement, divorce, unrequited love, family tragedy, whatever), he always comes out a winner, proving himself brave and honest, honourable and taciturn, heterosexual but horseloving, one of nature’s gents.”

Francis riding the ill-fated Devon Loch

– John Sutherland Lives of the Novelists, 2011 Graham Lord later revealed that Mary Francis had admitted that “her authorship was suppressed in order to preserve the taut ... masculine feel of the works”.

– Private Eye, 1992 Francis’s thrillers were addictive.

His male protagonists held a wide variety of professions:artist (In the Frame and To the Hilt); investigator of the Jockey Club (Slay-Ride and The Edge); pilot (Rat Race and Flying Finish), and wine merchant (Proof).

All the novels were narrated by the hero. Photography, accountancy, the gemstone trade, and restaurant service were other subjects used in his writing. Dysfunctional families, multi-millionaires, and racecourse owners were others. Only two heroes were used more than once: Injured Sid Halley in Odds Against (1965) and Whip Hand (1979) is a mirror image of the author himself, and Forfeit (1968) is touted as being his most revealing novel.

Francis became one of the bestselling authors in England. He worked to a strict schedule, beginning each novel on January 1, and delivering his manuscript to Michael Joseph (his publisher) on May 8. Regularly. He had to do it. The books were published in September. American publication generally happened the following February. Summers were used for planning, plot creation and research.

Writing began again in January.

“Dick and Mary Francis, both broken in body, retired to Florida in their last years. Graham Lord’s flagrantly ‘unauthorised’ biography, published in 1999, alleged outright that Mary has ghosted every one of the ‘Dick Francis’ novels ... she confirmed this thesis.”

Francis and the Royal Family (the Queen Mother on the right) In all, Francis wrote over 40 novels between 1957 and 2001. He was a favourite author of Philip Larkin (who said that Francis was more readable than any Booker Prize entry), Kingsley Amis, as well as Queen Elizabeth II, and his employer Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, who advised him to retire in 1957 after yet another serious fall. He took her advice.

Francis shunned the lecture circuit, letting his novels speak for themselves. He didn’t actually like One of Francis’ many best-selling novels, believed to have been ghostwritten by his wife

Dick Francis is the only threetime winner of the Mystery Writers of America’s Edgar Award for Best Novel: Forfeit in 1970; Whip Hand in 1981; and Come to Grief in 1996.

Britain’s Crime Writers Association awarded him its Gold Dagger Award for fiction in 1979, and the Cartier Diamond Dagger Lifetime Achievement Award in 1989. In 1996 he was awarded the Mystery Writers of America Grand Master Award – its highest honour. He was created an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1983; and promoted to Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2000. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 1999.

• Sir Christopher Ondaatje is the author of The Last Colonial. He acknowledges that he has quoted liberally from Wikipedia; Dick Francis: A Racing Life (1999) by Graham Lord; and Lives of the Novelists (2011) by John Sutherland.

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history

The

SHOE-SHINE BOYS

T

he profession of shoe-shine boy is traditionally that of a male child, though girls and adults who polish shoes earn the same sobriquet.

While the role is deprecated in much of Western civilisation, shining shoes is an important source of income for many children and families throughout the world, and many wellknown and high-profile people started their working life as shoeshiners, including at least two presidents.

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva became president of Brazil in 2003. He had little formal education, did not learn to read until PAUL C he was ten years old, ARANHA quit school after the FORGOTTEN FACTS second grade and his first job, at age 12, was as a shoeshine boy.

Alejandro Celestino Toledo Manrique, who was president of Peru from 2001 to 2006, also started his career shining shoes.

Like these two men, some Bahamian shoe-shiners must have worked their way to success.

Once upon a time, shoeshine boys were a ubiquitous feature on the streets of Nassau, as they walked around barefooted (as did lots of school children, both Black and white), carrying their shoe-shine boxes. Some strolled through the streets looking for customers, while others always went to the same spot, usually on Bay Street, and had a regular clientele. Customers would put one foot at a time on the

shoe box to have it polished and shined. The money earned was an important contribution to the welfare of the bootblacks’ families.

When Oakes Field opened in the 1940s, there were shoeshine boys waiting to polish the tourists’ shoes and, in 1974, when I joined Trans Island Airways, here were a number of these hard-working youths plying their trade. They polished my shoes every morning – until the police chased them away from the airport.

In Miami airport, where there was a row of about six shoe-shine boys, I often had my shoes shined. In Palm Beach airport, Bahamas Airways had built in just enough time for the crew to grab a very quick lunch, so I left my shoes and went to lunch in my socks.

The trade seems to have vanished from our islands, but around the world it still provides much-needed income, and I can enjoy having my shoes shined.

My most recent experience was in London, before COVID, at Fortnum and Mason, where the shoe-shine boy was a talkative, middle-aged refugee who had escaped from Nicolae Ceaușescu’s Romania. He was surprised that I had been to Constanta (just the airport) on multiple occasions and amazed that Romania closed its airspace to American planes whenever the US was at odds with Fidel Castro.

• For questions and comments, please send an e-mail to islandairman@gmail.com

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Friday, April 8, 2022

animals Animal matters Kim Aranha

The loss of a

PET OF THE WEEK

By The Bahamas Humane Society

The Bahamas Humane Society has many amazing cats and kittens of all ages available for adoption. They come in a wide range of colours, in many different sizes, and you’re sure to find the one that fits your style.

Need someone playful?

Check out the kittens.

Need a quieter, calmer friend? Meet our adult cats (some of them are playful, too).

Whatever you’re looking for, the BHS is sure to have it so come meet the kittens and

GREAT LADY

L

ast week, the sun shone a little less brightly, as the Bahamas had lost a grande dame - a lady with such personality and grace, the doyenne of the D’Aguilar Family and widow of greatly respected Vincent D’Aguilar, who left us in 2008.

Those of us fortunate enough to be her friend were in shock to hear that this amazing force of nature who was Marina d’Aguilar had left us and gone to join her beloved Vincent.

A little shudder passes through me whenever I realise just how much we have all lost with her passing. This lady was a sparkling glass of champagne, full of wit and laughte; she could light up the room in an instant.

Marina could phone up to pass on a message and you could easily spend an hour on the phone with her, and be shocked what time it was when you hung up, having covered myriads of topics and solved the problems of the world.

At vivid memory of Marina was in 1990 when she was organising the Bahamians who were going Holland for her son Dionisio’s wedding to his bride Saskia. I was invited to coffee one morning and settled in their beautiful home on the sea while Marina covered every detail right down to if we preferred bubbly water or still in our bedroom (or both); at the time I was travelling with a small baby and when we got to the hotel everything we could possibly need for him was there. The thought and attention that had gone into the preparations was absolutely amazing.

Marina put that kind of importance to detail in every remarkable party she gave to mark some important event or other, and a week or so after the party a thick envelope full of photographs was delivered to your doorstep.

Marina d’Aguilar was not just a phenomenal hostess, she was so many things to so many people, amongst her many passions was a staunch love and respect for animals.

It’s raining cats and kittens

How she loved her dogs. She was so proud of her COVID adoption from the Bahamas Humane Society. She called him Chappy because he was good little chap. She told me that he was a real little gentleman who understood what she said to him and always wanted to please her. I am so happy that Chappy was there to be her friend during those dull periods of lock up, they formed a strong bond, and I am sure that her dogs will miss her dearly.

Those dogs are indeed fortunate to have a family like Marina’s in their lives because one thing I know for sure, that even though they may miss their beloved Marina tremendously,

they will never be lacking in love and care from her family for the rest of their lives.

I can picture Marina when she arrives at rainbow bridge and the many animals who filled her life will be all lined up waiting to smother her with kisses as an amused Vincent looks on.

What a sweet reunion that will be in heaven!

The Bahamas Humane Society is ever grateful for her amazing generosity time and time again. She would faithfully purchase entire tables for balls, theme dinners, fashion shows, tea parties, whatever we were organizing. Marina would fill these tables Portrait of Marina D’Aguilar

by Basia Hamilton 2006

cats today. As an added bonus, adult cats are free for the rest of the month. How can you go wrong? So call the BHS today at 323-5138 and come and meet your next family member!

• The BHS Thrift Shop is open and ready to sell you all kinds of wonderful things – books, clothing, housewares, giftware, art, and much more.

Open Wednesday/Thursday/ Friday 11am to 3pm and on Saturday 10am to 2pm. Bring your bag!

with her friends and the laughter that would resonate across the room was a reminder that no matter your age you could enjoy life to the fullest. Full speed ahead, elegantly dressed, stunning jewelry and an engaging smile.

She had an enchanting habit of just popping by and leaving a cheque because she hadn’t received any pleas for help so she thought it must be time.

How I wish there were more people like that, who cared sufficiently to preempt the need and offer help spontaneously.

It is extremely touching and fitting that her family have chosen the Bahamas Humane Society as one of the organisations to receive donations in her name. Fitting for sure as I am sure Marina would approve, touching because her family follows suit in their love of animals.

To Marina’s sons, Dayne and Dionisio, daughters in Law, Linda and Saskia, her grandsons, the apples of her eye, Alexander and Oliver, I offer heartfelt condolences but at the same time you were so blessed to be loved by this simply amazing lady. She spoke of you with such pride and joy.

Yes, the Bahamas has lost a remarkable citizen, the Bahamas Humane society has lost a faithful and generous friend.

I first met Marina in 1980 when I became a part of the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Vincent was President of the Chamber. In spite of our difference of age, we became friends quickly and easily, always a kind and friendly word.

I have lost a friend and will miss her greatly.

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