#BTColumn – Bajans building better Britain

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by this author are their own and do not represent the official position of the Barbados Today.

by Vincent “Boo” Nurse

Ofttimes it is said that Barbadians punch above their weight in the wider world. However, I take issue with this understated generality where, in the UK Barbadians are not punching above their weight, but in their rightful place in the heavyweight division.

Barbados TODAY recently met a Barbadian who easily deserves to be classified at the top end of the table. André Gibbs was born in Barbados in 1970, the son of Tony Gibbs, a recent conferee of the Companion of Honour (CH Barbados) and Mary Gibbs, formerly a language teacher at Combermere, St Winifred’s and Harrison College. He received his early education at St Gabriel’s Primary School before entering Harrison College where later he was awarded a Barbados Scholarship.

Gibbs moved to the UK to embark on his studies in Engineering from Emmanuel College, Cambridge University. He then moved to Imperial College, London, where he studied for and obtained his master’s degree in Computational Fluid and Dynamics and Structural Mechanics. My mind was now blurred – I was not aware people studied such disciplines. So where, I asked, did he go from such heights? What was he now qualified to do?

The new graduate said that he did a brief stint in Trinidad and Tobago before moving to leading international engineering consultancy Arup, in order to broaden his base, working initially in Sheffield, then Hong Kong and London.

However, Gibbs was anxious to explore other avenues for experience and took the opportunity to work with the Barbadian company Edghill Associates building the new jetty in Montserrat in response to the ongoing volcanic eruptions on that island.

Much as the Montserrat experience might have been internally satisfying, it was fairly certain that the former Harrisonian would not rest on his laurels such as they were. Bigger fish were on the horizon and with itchy feet and undoubted talent he moved back to London to become engaged in the different areas of his profession.

There were many, and Gibbs was a major cog in the design teams which built the Hong Kong Airport, the Zurich Airport terminal (Switzerland) and other works in the UK, Hong Kong and Tokyo.

And so, the trek towards further international accomplishment and recognition continued for this modest and high-achieving son Barbadian soil whose humility far outweighs his achievements.

Interestingly, Gibbs is of the view that any success such as there has been is not solely attributed to any engineering skills, but in noting the broad lessons of others and more so, it is about absorbing and challenging the advice and views of one’s peers.

However, there is no hiding place for his ambition and individuality. In 1999 he changed direction and joined the growing UK property company Argent, an organisation which is a leader in urban regeneration of areas around the UK. Foremost amongst these projects is the one area around King’s Cross which is situated on the edge of inner London.

Observers in London who over the last 20 or so years visited the area, would have seen the gradual and remarkable transformation from a near rundown area with many derelict buildings to one which now displays a high profile of modernity of which Gibbs and his partners can be justly proud.

The company is currently engaged in a similar project in the Brent Cross area, covering 180 acres where it is expected that 6,700 homes will be built in partnership with the London borough of Barnet.

With Gibbs’ natural flair for regeneration, I asked him how he felt about the future for Barbados and particularly Bridgetown.

He said: “I believe in the value of heritage. There can be great mileage in retaining buildings like the Empire Theatre. We should not seek to knock them down. They can be rethought and sit comfortably among new structures.”

This topic appeared to touch the soul of the young Barbadian. “We are too keen to knock things down. Heritage is special to developing countries. We should never lose sight of what is special about our island’s history and although at times it is painful, nonetheless it is grounded.” And tellingly on this point he added: “Our past is undeniably part of our future.”

On Bridgetown and what he sees as the way forward Gibbs noted sadly that the character of the town has been lost. And I prodded, how do we recapture a past of which we are innocently content and inwardly happy?

Gibbs said: “We need to move to a greener future, to rediscover how to use a bus and restore Bridgetown as a thriving vibrant area, with people living, working, eating and revelling in the area. Radical I thought, but Gibbs was confident it has the potential to be reborn and that we should do not what is possible but what is necessary to facilitate its regeneration.

After observing over many years, the transformation of the area around King’s Cross I am sure that given the tools this brilliant young Barbadian would come up with the solutions which would make Bridgetown a city which Barbadians would be proud to call their capital.

André, who lives in London is married to Vicki and they have two sons – Archie and George.

With regard to the announcement that the country would declare Republic status, he said he was relaxed either way.

Vincent “Boo” Nurse is a Barbadian living in London who is a retired land Revenue Manager, Pensions and Investment Adviser. He is passionate about the development of his island home and disapora.