Former pudding and souse spot razed

The home of Owen Gubby Man Alleyne, once a popular spot for pudding and souse in Military Road, Bush Hall, St Michael was destroyed by fire on Monday morning.

As the fire officers worked feverishly to control the blaze, Alleyne’s niece Patricia Alleyne-Brewster told the media she had fond memories visiting her uncle’s home on weekends.

She explained that Alleyne passed away in 2009 and the three-bedroom one bathroom timber and wall house was left abandoned, with people taking refuge in the building at times.

“It is heartbreaking because my uncle died some years ago and since then no one was living in the house due to certain circumstances; and it was just abandoned. I was told that guys who do drugs would come and live in the house so it is really heartbreaking to see a house just go up like that.

“It was a good house when he died. It is really sad to see it go up like that not having anyone to take care of it,” she said. “Every Saturday he used to do pudding and souse so anybody would know Owen and we would come by him on Saturdays. He had a bar and pool table . . . so this was the place to come and play pool on weekends.

“He was an excellent cook. Anybody from Bush Hall would tell you they would come over by uncle Owen and get some good food.”

Alleyne-Brewster, who lives a short distance away from the house, said she only returned home yesterday from a six-month overseas trip and her mother alerted her about the fire.

Seven firefighters, including leading fire officer Patrick Smith from the Bridgetown station responded to the blaze in two fire tenders.

The Barbados Fire Service received the emergency call at 10:01 a.m. and the team arrived 12 minutes later. (SZB)