Punnett – 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 12, 2016

Ronnie Davis (1957-2012) III

Ronnie in St. Vincent

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

05_Family_Slides_017 — Careenage, Bridgetown, Barbados: Ronnie, Christine, possibly Ian, Marjorie, Jeannine and Herve Baldini

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.