Bayland says yes to Sir Garry school tribute

Residents in the Bayland have broadly welcomed the decision to rename Bay Primary School after Sir Garfield Sobers, while renewing calls for Walcott Avenue, where he grew up, to also bear his name – after it’s been repaired.

The issue of how Barbados should honour the late cricketing legend has been the subject of much discussion since his death on July 17.

In Walcott Avenue, where Sir Garry grew up, residents said they had been calling for years for the road to be renamed in his honour, but to no avail.

But following the Prime Minister’s announcement, several people told Barbados TODAY they believed renaming Bay Primary was a fitting tribute.

The Bay Pasture where the legend of Sir Garry was born became the playing field of the Bay Primary School, which moved to Bayville in 1958, replacing Sir Garry’s school, Bay Street Boys’. That building, in the shadow of Government Headquarters, became the home of the Government Information Service that same year.

Just days before the announcement, government officials came into the community seeking signatures on a petition for the name change, said a man whose child attends Bay Primary, who signed it.

Sir Garry’s long-time neighbour, Udine Miller, said she was happy to hear the announcement, although she believed the area where Sir Garry grew up should also bear his name.

“They didn’t rename the avenue, but they can do that.”

Miller revealed that following his death, the street sign leading to his gap was repaired, while some patching work was also done ahead of his funeral.

Another Walcott Avenue resident, Angela Callender, shared Miller’s sentiments about the road but also welcomed the decision to rename the school.

“I feel it’s wonderful; it’s a great thing to do. It’s the school he went to, and it’s a remembrance of him, which is a great thing. He was a very nice man,” she said, recalling encounters with Sir Garry as a child.

Callender also believes Walcott Avenue should be renamed in his honour.

“It needs working on.”

Another resident, Maureen, also supported the idea of naming the street after Sir Garry.

“Out here supposed to do and it ain’t done yet, but if they do the school that will be fine.”

But not everyone in the community agreed with the decision.

One resident who attended Bay Primary said he believed the school’s name should remain unchanged, as Sir Garry did not attend the school.

“Why they don’t change Harrison College then, why they don’t change Harvard and Oxford?”

Still others rejected that view, describing Sir Garry as a national treasure and saying the renaming was fitting, particularly given that other schools have been renamed to honour prominent Barbadians.

A business owner in the area, Irvin, said: “He played cricket on the Bay Pasture, and in the gully, so we’d be glad. The only problem [is] I’m a little disappointed … that we didn’t get the gap too; Rihanna gap get do, and they say they going to do his gap.”

He said the condition of Walcott Avenue remained a concern and recalled that as recently as last year, cricketers visiting Barbados would come into the area looking for the place where Sir Garry grew up.

“Pakistan, India, all sorts of people come there asking where he lived ‘cause his brother is still there,” Irvin remarked.

“I sorry that it didn’t happen before, but that is life. I am very proud.”

An elderly resident in a neighbouring gap also welcomed the decision, but said more should be done to develop cricket at the primary and secondary school levels.

“That would be good to develop their skills for the game, introducing it to the children at a young age so they can spur their interest and they will eventually go on to play in the league and then further on. That’s the best way to develop it: introduce it at the school level. 

Those who like it will excel; those who don’t like it will go on to pick up some other discipline, but give everybody that opportunity, introduce it at the level.”

Skeeta, who lives close to Bay Primary, said the issue had been discussed in the community for some time.

“It’s a good thing cause he grew up in the area and most people that live in the area know about him. It’s a real good honour to him. I went to school here too.”

Another elderly resident, Jeffrey, supported renaming Walcott Avenue after Sir Garry as an additional way of honouring him.

Francilia Waithe, a Bayland resident who lives close to the Bay Pasture, where Sir Garry often played cricket as a child, said she also supported the government’s decision:

“It’s not a bad thing, cause he lived out here most of his young days and he did a lot for cricket.”

At the top of Walcott Avenue lives Jacqueline Straker, who said the announcement was a source of pride for the community:

“All my children went [to Bay Primary], all five went there, and one grand went there. I thought they would have named the gap, but they put it back as Walcott Avenue.”

(LG)