Kathleen Davis was born on 17th May 1900 at Briar Hall, Christ Church, Barbados. When Malcolm died on the third of January 1966, she would have been 65. She had a long life, and she was the only grandparent to know our children. She lived to see all four of them!
When Grandad died, Kathleen was moved to the Home for Indigent and Elderly Ladies, “Banavie”, 4th Avenue Belleville, St Michael. She was happy there, as many of her friends and relatives were living there. They would all meet in the large drawing room and talk about days gone by.
Almair Home, “Banavie.” Click on image to visit Facebook page.
Late in her life, Kathleen had a problem with fainting. Her doctor told her that blood was not getting to her brain, and that she would have to wear a neck brace. My little children started to refer to her as “the grannie with the neck brace!”
Party at Bannatyne, Christ Church: Herbert, Kathleen wearing brace and my Aunt June deep in conversation.
Kathleen died about 1994. I was living in Florida, USA, so I did not witness her last days. She will always be remembered as a gracious and kind lady. I was so glad that my wife and children had the opportunity to meet and know her. Even though her life was difficult at times, she was always well dressed and well mannered.
In 1964 Herbert was tasked with opening a branch of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce in St Vincent, now known as St Vincent and the Grenadines. He sailed Aurora from Barbados to St Vincent.
Barbados: Aurora
Bridgetown, Barbados, 1964. LR Anthony, Herbert and Harold Jones on Aurora
St Vincent, c. 1964. Aurora arrives in St Vincent. LR: Anthony, Jacques Baldini, Harold Jones. Herbert is in front of Harold and holding the boom.
Clip from St Vincent newspaper
I think that this is a photo of the bank.
This photo is terrible. Is that Terry Sprott?
Fort Charlotte, St Vincent. Herbert on right with two friends.
Tally Ho, St Vincent. Herbert, Ian, Marjorie, Ron and Anthony
We were very happy in St Vincent. Everybody was very friendly and made us feel very welcome.
St Vincent, unknown boat. Looks like Herbert at helm and Anthony far left
Our father, Herbert, had a wooden sailboat called Aurora. I think it was about twenty seven feet long. When Herbert was tasked with opening a new branch of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce in St. Vincent, he was not going to leave his boat in Barbados!
Sailing from Barbados to St. Vincent in 1964
Circa 1964 – Aurora entering Careenage, Bridgetown, Barbados
The above shows Aurora entering the Careenage, Bridgetown. Herbert kept the boat at the Royal Barbados Yacht Club, as it was then known. The boat was brought to Bridgetown to do the required paperwork before leaving for St. Vincent.
St. Vincent was a hundred miles away across deep open ocean. Herbert made the trip navigating with a compass and a transistor radio!
I strongly desired to go on this adventure, but I was only thirteen and I had a habit of falling overboard!
Circa 1964 – Careenage, Barbados: Anthony, Herbert and Harold Jones
At fifteen Anthony was chosen to crew. The others were Jacques Baldini, cousin Harold Jones and of course, Herbert.
Circa 1964 – St. Vincent: Anthony, Jacques Baldini, Herbert in front of Harold Jones
Life in St. Vincent
Most of our school days were spent at our grandparents’ home, Windermere, in St. John, Barbados. We did fly to St. Vincent for most vacations. There we had many friends and enjoyed the parties and the fishing.
Anthony and the lush Vincentian vegetation
“Tally Ho”, St. Vincent: Herbert, Ian, Marjorie, Ronnie and Anthony
Anthony Herbert Davis was born in Barbados in 1949. I think he was born in a house with Lodge in the name just north of Bridgetown. Our family was Anglican, so infant baptism was mandated. Here is a photo of Anthony’s Christening.
1949 Barbados: Malcolm, Kathleen, Marjorie with baby Anthony, Amy, Herbert, Laurence, Wendy Farmer and unknown gentleman
Kathleen holding Anthony and Malcolm
I have no idea where the following three photos were taken.
Ian and Anthony
Herbert, Marjorie, Ian and Anthony
Barbados: Marjorie and Anthony
I believe this was taken at Constant, Belleville, St. Michael, Barbados. I recall a barber visiting us. He was a Cheeseman, and he was known as Dummy because he was unable to speak.
Anthony, Herbert, Ian and barber
This is probably Constant, Belleville again. Anthony appears to be feeding Ian.
My recollections of my parents start in Belleville, where we lived on the 10th avenue. We first lived at “Constant”, a two story wooden home. Then we moved to “Bohemia”, which was close to George Street. Below Marjorie and Herbert in the backyard of Bohemia. The concrete wall runs along 10th Avenue. Behind the wall are towering palms. We called them Cabbage Palms, but their scientific name is Roystonea oleracea. They bore a “broom” which was used by our maid.
Bohemia, Belleville: Marjorie and Herbert
Marjorie with Anthony
We were close to Bridgetown, and I recall my father coming home for lunch!
Bohemia, Belleville, St. Michael, Barbados: Marjorie and Herbert with Anthony and Ronnie. Our Julie mango tree is in the background.
Here is an extended family photo taken in Barbados.
Malcolm, can’t recognize the next two, Kathleen, Teddy Jones, Marjorie
Laurence’s sisters were Helen Farmer, Katy Jones and May Marshall. Teddy and Katy’s daughter Audrey was married to Louis Seale.
Marjorie, two I don’t recognise, Dorothy May, Laurence, Helen, Katy and son Harold Jones, Mona Watson?, May Marshall with sons John Anthony and David, Maureen, and in the foreground Louis Seale.
This is a nice photo of my mother, but I don’t know the story behind it.
Marjorie Davis
As a condition of his employment at the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Herbert had to take a “long leave” every few years. The only stipulation that he was to head north to Canada or the US. My parents used to say with Dad’s uncle Leo in Brooklyn, New York. Leo’s wife Ida is on the left below.
New York, USA: Ida Davis, Ian, Marjorie, Herbert and Anthony
Here is another unknown photo.
Marjorie with infant
I am going to take a wild guess and say that the photo below was taken at Plymouth, Crane, St. Philip.
Barbados: Marjorie, Ronnie and Ian
The photo below was probably taken on the south coast of Barbados. Marjorie is with her nieces, George’s girls.
Herbert was transferred to the nearby island of St. Vincent. Herbert had a sailboat, “Aurora.” I believe this group is seeing him off.
Careenage, Bridgetown: Ronnie, Christine, Marjorie and Herve inspecting the water
Below is a family reunion at Windermere, St. John, Barbados. Herbert, Marjorie and Ronnie would be visiting from St. Vincent.
Windermere: Back row: Pat, Sarah, Ronnie, Kathleen, Herbert, Marjorie, Laurence, George Front row: Anthony, Ann, Penny, Amy and Alison
The photo above is probably related to the 100+ mile trip that Herbert made with Jacques Baldini from Barbados to St. Vincent on Herbert’s 27 foot sailboat Aurora. That trip will be covered later under Herbert’s memorial. Marjorie and Ronnie went by plane!
Another photo was taken on the same day, so I stuck it here. I cannot place the exact location below, but I guess it could be Belleville, St. Michael, Barbados.
Barbados: Front: Christine, Ronnie, Herve – Rear: Malcolm, Marjorie (obscuring Laurence), Helen and Amy
In St. Vincent, our parents lived in “Tally Ho”, Villa.
Tally Ho, St. Vincent: Herbert, Ian, Marjorie, Ronnie and Anthony
Herbert once planted 600 pineapple plants on a neighbouring house lot. The volcanic soil produced the sweetest pineapples we had ever tasted.
St. Vincent, Tally Ho: Ronnie in the pineapple patch
This appears to be a costume party near Tally Ho, but I cannot identify anyone.
Our family were close to their good friends Phyllis and Ken Punnett. Phyllis and Ken lived in a beautiful home. They were very kind and hospitable.
St. Vincent: Marjorie, Ronnie and Phyllis
Later Herbert built a house near the town of Calliaqua. Below Ronnie enjoys the view from his front yard.
St. Vincent, “Ho Bohemia”: On the horizon Battowia and Baliceaux. Young Island is on the right.
My parents lived many years here.
Ho Bohemia, St. Vincent: Marjorie, Herbert, Sandra (with Summer), Laurence, Ronnie, Sarah. Dominic is in the foreground.
Both homes were a short walk from the beach, and we could row or swim to Young Island. We enjoyed fishing and boating.
St. Vincent: An older Ronnie and Herbert lifting a “pram.” This was either tied to the sailboat’s permanent mooring or stored on the bow when we were sailing.
Herbert redesigned and rebuilt the “Cecily M.”, a thirty eight foot gaff rigged sloop. We loved to sail down the Grenadines!
Kingstown, St. Vincent: Cecily M. being launched by manpower!
All was not good for Ronnie. Because he was not perceived as a local he was attacked every day at school. He was fortunate that he grew early and was bigger than his assailants. He could successfully defend himself, but Marjorie had to do a lot of mending and laundry.
