#BTColumn – Tribute to Richard Goddard

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

by Professor Sir Henry Fraser

Richard Goddard –  farmer, businessman, environmentalist, historian and public citizen – died on Thursday, February 18th at his home Bleak House, at the age of 85, and many thousands of Barbadians from all walks of life mourn his passing.

A hero in his schooldays, a Canadian Royal Mounted Policeman for many years, a businessman managing the famous Kensington Food Fair, a pig farmer, an eminent historic preservationist and environmental activist, a speleologist, hike leader and youth leader, and an amateur historian, among other lives and loves, Richard achieved a certain additional fame in his frank and active opposition to the unwise proposal for the Greenland landfill.

He has been described as a living legend … a library of Barbados … a larger-than-life man, passionate about Barbados, our history and our people. He will be remembered as a Treasure of Barbados.

Although there have been many ways and situations in which we came into contact after I came home to the UWI and QEH in 1977, it was hiking in early days and around the council table of the Barbados National Trust that I got to know the measure of the man called Gorilla since school days, and whose heart was big enough to match his huge frame.

Richard was passionate about Barbados and our history. He researched many aspects of it, and although not necessarily with the rigour of a trained researcher, always with the instincts and determination needed to find the answers – so many of which he did. And his passion was infectious, so in spite of our differences in professional disciplines we got along like a house on fire. And I have often wished we didn’t live so far apart, because he knew so much that I wanted to know!

He had many skills and many interests, but he was especially dedicated to the goals and the work of the Barbados National Trust. He was on council while I was president (1989 – 94) and for many years thereafter.

He was the brains and the brawn behind much of the work on Morgan Lewis Mill, and he was actively involved in the early exploration of Harrison’s Cave. He was always a man of his word, did what he offered and promised to do, and was generous to a fault with his time and knowledge. As others have said, he was frank, honest and outspoken when necessary, and unlike so many people he had the courage always to boldly speak the truth.

Like others working in the field of the environment and conservation, he knew the full story of the Greenland landfill, the facts and the risks, and some of it may have gone to the great beyond with him. But his commitment to truth, integrity and Barbados may have saved us from a huge ecological disaster.

We all cherish his memory and sympathise with his partner Margaret, his son Rene Bruce, and his large family and many friends.

Professor Sir Henry Fraser, Past President, Barbados National Trust