Ho Bohemia – The Story of My Barbados Family

June 22, 2016

Marjorie Davis (1927-2010) Chapter V

St. Vincent

When they first moved to St. Vincent, Herbert and Marjorie rented a home on a beach facing Young Island. We boys enjoyed swimming, rowing and fishing. On weekends, Dad would take us sailing.

One remarkable story is that when Prince Charles, son of Queen Elizabeth II, visited St. Vincent he spent some time at this house. My mother prepared the house for his visit and then stayed away until he left. She said she painted the word Britannia on our dingy, the tender for our sailboat. She said Prince Philip actually went rowing in it.

The next home was also rented. “Tally Ho” was a little further from the beach, but it was still only a short walk away. Ken and Phyllis Punnett had a beautiful home nearby, but I do not know where this was taken.

01_Bellville_Crane_Slides_013 — St. Vincent: Marjorie, Ronnie and Phyllis Punnett

The last home in St. Vincent was “Ho Bohemia.” This was built by Herbert. It had a commanding view, including the sea and neighbouring islands.

Herbert used to have his hair cut by an itinerate barber, but here is something unexpected.

07_Our_Family_Slides_008 — Ho Bohemia: Marjorie cutting Herbert’s hair

Marjorie was very active in the Mothers’ Union. This group may be affiliated:

08_Family_Slides_017 — St. Vincent: Marjorie and another lady

This is a family reunion. Anthony and family are visiting from England, Ian’s and Ronnie’s families from Barbados. Laurence was living with my parents after Amy passed.

07_Our_Family_Slides_013 — Ho Bohemia: Dominic, Ian, Herbert, Sarah, Marjorie, Ronnie, Anthony, Kathy, Daniel, Laurence and Sandra

Grannie Marjorie enjoys her first two grandchildren.

Ho Bohemia: Marjorie, Daniel and Dominic

Marjorie did not enjoy sailing because of the intense sun. She did enjoy being outdoors though.

Marjorie probably on Herbert’s boat, Cecily M.

Next: Later years

June 22, 2016

Marjorie Davis (1927-2010) Chapter V

St. Vincent

When they first moved to St. Vincent, Herbert and Marjorie rented a home on a beach facing Young Island. We boys enjoyed swimming, rowing and fishing. On weekends, Dad would take us sailing.

The last home in St. Vincent was “Ho Bohemia.” This was built by Herbert. It had a commanding view, including the sea and neighbouring islands.

Herbert used to have his hair cut by an itinerate barber, but here is something unexpected.

Marjorie was very active in the Mothers’ Union. This group may be affiliated:

This is a family reunion. Anthony and family are visiting from England, Ian’s and Ronnie’s families from Barbados. Laurence was living with my parents after Amy passed.

Grannie Marjorie enjoys her first two grandchildren.

Marjorie did not enjoy sailing because of the intense sun. She did enjoy being outdoors though.

Next: Later years

June 21, 2016

Marjorie Davis (1927-2010) Chapter IV

Marjorie’s Family Years in Barbados

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.

bellevl — Bohemia, Belleville: Marjorie and Herbert

We were close to Bridgetown, and I recall my father coming home for lunch!

davisfamilyr — 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.

08_Family_Slides_005 — 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.

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.

I am going to take a wild guess and say that the photo below was taken at Plymouth, Crane, St. Philip.

07_Our_Family_Slides_024 — 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.

07_Our_Family_Slides_020

Herbert was transferred to the nearby island of St. Vincent. Herbert had a sailboat, “Aurora.” I believe this group is seeing him off.

05_Family_Slides_017 — 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

Next: St. Vincent

June 14, 2016March 13, 2021

Ronnie Davis (1957-2012) Chapter IV

Three Different Times in Ronnie’s Life

Ian lived at Windermere. Ronnie and Uncle George appear to be visiting.

ianrongeorgewpar — Circa 1963, Windermere, Barbados: Foreground – Alison, Ann and Penny. Background – Ian, Amy, Laurence, George, Ronnie

Years pass and in 1976 Ronnie marries the love of his life, Sandra. In 1978, Summer was born.

Years pass, and Ronnie is at Summer’s wedding.

sumparents — 2002, Baker’s Plantation, St.Peter: Sandra is laying down the law to Ronnie, Pat, Summer and Neville.

The reception:

Next: Ron in the Grenadines, St. Vincent

June 12, 2016

Ronnie Davis (1957-2012) III

Ronnie in St. Vincent

Ronnie went to St. Vincent with our parents when he was about eight.

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.

04_Plymouth_Slides_018 — Barbados: Front: Christine, Ronnie, Herve – Rear: Malcolm, Marjorie (obscuring Laurence), Helen and Amy

In St. Vincent, our parents lived in “Tally Ho”, Villa.

03_St_Vincent_June_Slides_013 — 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.

12100050 — St. Vincent, Tally Ho: Ronnie in the pineapple patch

This appears to be a costume party near Tally Ho, but I cannot identify anyone.

05_Family_Slides_007

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.

Later Herbert built a house near the town of Calliaqua. Below Ronnie enjoys the view from his front yard.

04_Plymouth_Slides_015 — St. Vincent, “Ho Bohemia”: On the horizon Battowia and Baliceaux. Young Island is on the right.

My parents lived many years here.

07_Our_Family_Slides_012 — 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.

07_Our_Family_Slides_001 — 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!

07_Our_Family_Slides_026 — 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.