Mr. Calvin Kenneth Lake, a popular personality of Cauls Pond village, was laid to rest in St. Mary‘s Pro-Cathedral Cemetery on Monday, December 9, 16 days in the run-up to his 80th birthday, having been born on Christmas Day, December 1939. He passed away on November 4, 2019.
The large attendance at the Thanksgiving Service, conducted by Bishop Errol Brooks and Rev. Fr. Raliville Christian, was indicative of the high esteem and affection in which he was held by all and sundry, a number of whom paid tribute to him. In his productive years, his last service to Anguilla was as a Guard at the Princess Alexandra Hospital. As a mark of respect for him, many members of the Board of Directors and Staff of the Health Authority, as well as Government officials, attended the thanksgiving service.
Among the tribute bearers was his friend of almost forty years, Premier Victor Banks, a former table games player with him. He was a fitting person to deliver the Eulogy having a personal knowledge of the deceased, and in consultation with his beloved daughter, Gwenneth Webster. Premier Banks said in part:
“Calvin was brought up in traditional Anguillian society at a time in our history when most able-bodied persons either worked hard to eke out a basic living at home, or had to travel overseas to provide for their family’s needs. Losing his father and mother while still a teenager it was necessary for him to fend for himself very early in life – and as a consequence acquired a number of skills that served him well throughout the changing situations of his life.
“Calvin was very industrious. He tried his hand at almost every trade. He was a farmer – planting crops as well as raising animals. He was one of the butchers in the village. He was a sailor on a number of well-known vessels of the day. He worked in all aspects of the construction trade from wood; to steel; to concrete. He was a master, along with his friend the late Mack “Sleepy” Bryan, at building cement blocks. He had a great love for fishing using all methods: line fishing; setting pots; and spear fishing. He was literally a jack-of-all-trades.
“Calvin would eventually apply all those skills into building his own home, from the foundation up, in that area of Cauls Bottom that was a part of his childhood haunts/playgrounds which he called: Jingle Bells. It was his pride and joy that he could build that house in Jingle Bells. It is where he also encouraged his daughter, Gwenneth, to build as well. I know that this meant a lot to him.”
In his sermon, Bishop Errol Brooks spoke of the deceased as follows:
“As a community of faith, we have come to give thanks to Almighty God for the life of our brother, Calvin (Callo). Calvin was a faithful member of this church. He was regular at the 6.15 services. As he worshipped and sang the praises of God, with fervence, he had a beautiful tenor voice. We shall miss him with that kind of voice at worship.
“Calvin displayed what I would refer to as a true Anguillian spirit – a spirit of love for family and friends; a spirit of kindheartedness; and a spirit of joviality. He was a people’s person. When he did not agree with you, he would let you know.
“He worked as a Security Guard for both private and public establishments for a number of years. He was reliable and considerate. While we slept at night, Callo, and all those who serve as security guards, watchmen and watchwomen, guarded our homes and our institutions. We want to thank God for these people and the services they offer in our community. So often we take these people for granted. I have said it before, and I am saying it now, that among those whom I really value, are the persons who collect our garbage and we should treat them good. Christmas is coming up. Give them a gift. Make them feel as though they are really wanted. I notice that Callo’s birthday is on Christmas Day and, maybe, as a gift for Callo on his birthday, we can reach out to the security people and those who collect our garbage.
“Callo has come to the end of his pilgrimage so today we commit him to the arms of a loving God. We also commit his family – his daughter, Gwenneth, his siblings and all the members of his family – into those same loving arms. Remember God has told us that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ – not even death!”
