BT Columnist ‘Boo’ Nurse dies at 77

London-based Barbados TODAY columnistVincent Boo Nurse died at the age of 77 on Monday, his daughter revealed.

Nurse’s last role was reporting on contemporary UK issues from his unique viewpoint in his A View from London column.

Considered an important link to Barbadians in the UK, Barbados TODAY Editor-in-Chief Sandy Deane said: “This is a big loss for the BT family. Mr Nurse, though based in London, was a valued member of our team. His writing was sharp, entertaining, precise and educational. He no doubt had so many tales left to tell.

His daughter Andrea noted: “It is likely that he will be most revered for his friendship and warmth to many, an example of someone who went the extra mile for many.

“If he had it, it was yours, if he didn’t have it, he knew someone who could get it for you. If you came to London and needed anything he was there for you, whether he knew you or not. Recommended by a fellow Barbadian, that was good enough.”

Nurse, who grew up in Carrington Village, St Michael with his six siblings, Elaine, Brian Luther, Pearson, Courtland, Betty and Arnet, developed early leadership qualities.

“[He] was a surrogate father, brother, a mentor and friend to many, too countless to name, Andrea said.

A Combermere School old scholar, who was listed among the school’s top 100 scholars, Nurse departed Barbados on April 23, 1964 on an adventure, beginning his life in Britain like so many West Indians in
London Transport.

Andrea said: “Vince started on the buses much like everyone else but it wasn’t long before he set his sights on a clerical position that he had no business applying for. Somehow, he managed to get the job with the charm and guile that many of us came to know and love.

“He was a trailblazer, stepping into roles as the first local Black employee for organisations such as HMRC [Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs], the Inland Revenue, where he excelled and became an inspector.
He proved to be brilliant at a job that he continued to do to this day.”

While there, Nurse started a family, marrying Jeanette and having four children, Andrea, Garfield, Seymour and Vincent Adriano. He leaves to mourn six grandchildren, Tyrelle, Nathan, Thiyana, Eden, Zyon and Aaron, as well as great grandchildren, Aiden and Sapphira.

Nurse, a former Chairperson of the Barbados Labour Party UK branch, established a career as a Land Revenue Manager and Pensions and Investment Adviser.

In addition to his writing, Nurse was a supporter of Arsenal football club and a huge fan of horse racing but cricket was his first love.

“He played as a Barbados schoolboy and didn’t hang up his bat until he was well into his late 30s but he continued to be an avid fan, named as ‘the Bajan’ by Brian Lara in his later years as he still frequented the West Indies cricket team’s dressing room,” his daughter remembered.

“He counted Sir Garfield Sobers, Charlie Griffith, Wes Hall, Gordon Greenidge, Michael Holding and the late Malcolm Marshall as friends, there were countless others, too many to name.”

Nurse also played for various London Transport teams, eventually becoming the founder of Maple Cricket Club, playing throughout the UK and touring Barbados a number of times.

“Vincent Boo Nurse was special in so many ways, the list goes on, a man who didn’t suffer fools gladly but an example to us of how to live life lavishly and generously with whatever you have,” said Andrea.

“A man with a place in the hearts of many, a man for all seasons, he will be dearly missed.”

Barbados TODAY extends deepest condolences to his family, friends and loved ones.