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Foster has left a lasting legacy

by Barbados Today
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The Barbados Aquatic Sports Association family is in mourning after losing one of its outstanding stalwarts.

Former president Maurice Foster who was instrumental in building the pool at the National Aquatic Centre passed away recently (Sunday, December 27th) at the age of 90.

Days before his passing, Foster who was awarded a Silver Crown of Merit and celebrated his birthday on December 4th spoke with Barbados TODAY.

Reliving his past experiences as someone who spent most of his life in the sport of swimming, Foster said: “With regards to the aquatic centre, it was Angus Edghill and I who built it. I remember he told me once if you could raise the money I would build it at a good cost. With an offer like that you had to do something about it.

“That’s how it started. So, it was really Angus Edghill who was the engineer and I who pioneered the building of the aquatic centre. Anne Shepherd was the president at that time and she along with Katie Gale, Angus and I are who really built it.

“I will say this. We had no formal meetings, nothing. It was just the four of us. And each of us knew what we had to do and we went ahead and did it. Anne was a good fundraiser, Katie had always been the secretary and then along with Angus and I got to work.”
As he reflected on some of his most memorable moments in the sport, Foster recalled when Leah Martindale qualified for the Olympics.
“I don’t get involved with swimming now at all but it seems to be running well.

It is because of the aquatic centre that Leah Martindale had her chance. That thrilled all of us to see her representing Barbados at the Olympics.

“She went to the Pan American Games and did very well and then she went to the Olympic Games. When we heard on the radio that she competed in the preliminary and had gotten into the final, I called everybody to tell them. The first Barbadian who had gotten into a final at the Olympic Games in swimming.

Nobody has every gotten that far.
“When we heard that we said this is wonderful. The manager of Bubbas (sports bar) gave me a call and invited my wife and I to dinner the night of the final. Angus was there, it was four of us. We watched her take part in the final in lane eight. That was one of the memorable moments of my life,” Foster added.

The devoted husband of over 60 years and proud father of four helped to establish the national pool in 1990. In fact, he recalled many individuals called for the national aquatic centre to be named the Maurice Foster pool.
But Foster after whom the Learn to Swim pool at the national aquatic centre is named did not agree. “A lot of people had said they should have called it the Maurice Foster pool.

I said I never agree it should be called the Maurice Foster pool. If they wanted to call it the Maurice Foster and the Angus Edghill Aquatic Centre I would be happy with that.But he will have to be alongside what I did.”

Foster had thanked all those who came out to honour him during a recent open water swim event. “I am very honoured that they remembered me. I was involved in swimming for most of my life. So, it is very nice of them to remember me,” he said.
Foster’s niece, Allison Pile, explained the event was to commemorate Foster’s 90th birthday. The event was organised by John- Mike Peterkin, Peter Gibbs, Geoff Farmer and Pile herself.

Speaking on the passing of her uncle Pile said: “Everybody knows uncle Maurice because he personally was responsible for building the pool.
“He organised it, he got the finance and without him the pool would not have been built. Between uncle Maurice and Angus they built the pool.

“It is because of that pool so many more people in Barbados learn to swim and can swim. So, it is a real legacy,” Pile explained.
President of BASA Lady Cheryl Forde said: “Maurice was a very generous person. He gave his knowledge willingly to the youth and the not-so-young. He was a man who not only talked the talk but walked the walk.

“The concept of the Aquatic Centre for a place Barbadians could learn to swim and play water polo and provide facilities for competitive events was that of Maurice Foster and Angus Edghill.”

Forde added: “On behalf of the Executive of the Barbados Aquatic Sports Association and our Members and my family, I offer our condolences to his wife, Linda, children Teresa, Lisa, Stephen, Andy and his extended family. I trust they will be comforted by the beautiful memories he has left. May he rest in peace.”

(morissalindsay@barbadostoday.bb)

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