The people of Anguilla are often praised by visitors for their friendliness and hospitality. This mannerism was demonstrated at a memorial gathering for the late Mr. John Twentyman, a UK tourist, who is believed to have died by drowning recently.
Saddened and red-eyed, many Anguillians, other residents, and visitors, rubbed shoulder to shoulder at Sunset Shack, on Rendezvous Bay, to pay their last respects to Mr. Twentyman,74, on Thursday evening, March 8. It was at this exquisite world-class beach, beyond the tiny locally-owned cuisine and drinks outpost, where the long-staying repeat tourist and his wife, Mrs. Jane Twentyman, both of Lymington, Hampshire, in the south of England, spent much of their leisure time while in Anguilla.
Unfortunately, Saturday, February 24, 2018, was Mr. Twentyman’s last visit at Rendezvous Beach. Not a strong swimmer, but nevertheless, a lover of the sea, he reportedly swam out from a nearby location, got into difficulties and eventually passed away. His limped body was brought ashore by an Anguillian rescuer, Mr. Garvey Lake, from Sunset Shack.
This is how the story unfolded as told to The Anguillian by Mrs. Twentyman and Mr. Lake.
“We first came to Anguilla in 1989 and we have been coming almost every year since,” the widow stated. “We love Anguilla like you love it. It is our second home and we have been spending the winters here ever since. There is nowhere else like it.
“Every afternoon, weather permitting, we would swim in the bay here. John probably got caught in a rip tide. He was farther out than he should have been and drowned. He wasn’t a strong swimmer. As beautiful as it is, the sea is unforgiving. We have a huge respect for the sea, but I think it was just one of those awful accidents that happened. He was 74, but fit. He went to the gym and we walked the beach every day. So he was a fit young 74. He loved life and laughed a lot.”
She expressed thanks and appreciation to those who sought to rescue her husband. “Garvey Lake from the Sunshine Shack went out on a paddle board and pulled John up on it and held on to him,” she recalled. “The girls [at the Sunshine Shack] got help from Jim Mauck, a very good friend, and he and his daughter swam out to help as well…It happened at about 4.30 on Saturday, February 23, nearly two weeks ago. There was another guy who assisted. His name was Anthony…He and his wife sent me flowers at the Sunshine Shack in memory [of my husband].”
The strong-hearted and calm Mrs. Twentyman continued: “We took John yesterday [Wednesday, March 7] to St. Maarten to be cremated. I couldn’t take his body home. He has a brother and a sister in England and they need him back. Next week I will get the urn [with his ashes] from Rey’s Funeral Home and I would like to leave a bit of him on Rendezvous – some of his ashes. I will take the rest of him to his blood family.”
The couple has no children. Casting a fleeting glance across the area, where her husband lost his life, she remarked: “I know it has happened, but I am still numbed. It will take time…”
Garvey Lake, who manages Sunshine Shack, told The Anguillian: “The couple normally spent three or four days a week with us, but on this one sad day, they were just above the Anguilla Great House. It was a bit slow for us and we were packing up around 4.00 pm that Saturday. The deceased and his wife saw that we were closing so they swam over to place an order for Sunday. Jane, the better swimmer, was usually in front and John would normally swim behind her.
“While Jane was placing the order, there was this guy swimming a bit farther than usual so I asked her whether that was John swimming so far out. She took me around to the front of the bar and told me: ‘look John over there swimming’. I looked and saw this guy swimming just like John. I took my eyes off this person who seemed to be far out to me. I continued to pack up and Jane continued placing her order. When I took another look, there was no movement where the person was. That was when my heart jumped and I said ‘my God, somebody is in trouble’ and I ran out with my paddle board to him.
“When I got about 20 feet I realised that there was a body lying flat on the face on the water. There was no movement and when I held up his head I realised it was John. It was heart-breaking. He was a very close friend and a very helpful and caring person. John spent six months of a year in Anguilla and about two months out of those six months he spent with us here at the Sunshine Shack. It is a great loss of a great person. I wish I could have done more.”
During the event, a number of visitors and Anguillians, led by Mr. Steve Bartow, paid glowing tribute to the late tourist. Mr Bartow and his wife met John and Jane in Anguilla twenty years ago. They became friends, visited each other in Hampshire, England, and in Indiana, in the United States, and travelled together to Alaska and Normandy in France.
Among those paying tribute was Mrs. Alma Franklin on behalf of herself and her husband, Mr. Benny Franklin. “He was everything”, she lamented. “He has been my tenant for the last three to four years. I am really going to miss his laughter, big hugs and welcoming smile. To Jane, we love you and will always be here for you.”
Mrs. Jane Twentyman will remain in Anguilla until April. For now, she plans to visit Anguilla next winter and, as usual, will be the guest of the Franklins.
Mr. Twentyman was a retired chartered surveyor who liked various aspects of charitable work and had a passion for cricket. It was this passion that led him and his wife, an ex-small farmer, to know Anguilla’s former Hampshire County Cricketer, Mr. Cardigan Connor.
In observance of Mr. Twentyman’s contribution to charity, funds were collected at the memorial event for the rebuilding of the Tender Loving Care Home in The Valley which was severely damaged by Hurricane Irma. The rebuilding process is being led by Sunset Homes in Anguilla.
To date $2450 US Dollars has been raised for that purpose.
