A person meets many people in a lifetime – through casual connections, working environments, and social or spiritual engagements. Sometimes a few of those “meetings” result in productive relationships and, overtime, these relationships develop and evolve into lasting friendship.
Mr Nat Hodge, formerly of Radio Anguilla and founder, editor and publisher of The Anguillian newspaper, and Mr John Benjamin, lawyer and CEO of the Caribbean Juris Chambers had such a “meeting” many years ago which developed into a strong working relationship and evolved into a lasting friendship.
Together, these two gentlemen founded the then popular Talk Your Mind radio programme aired on Radio Anguilla – and later on Kool FM 103.3 -between 1994 and 2009.
The call-in show provided a widely-accessed interactive medium for persons weighing in on various topics and subjects of discussion, and providing varying points of view on the narratives of the day. The show eventually became embroiled in a legal battle, which Talk Your Mind won, and is now a landmark case for freedom of expression, referenced in courts throughout the region.
Mr Hodge and Mr Benjamin met up again recently at The Anguillian newspaper’s office for a long-anticipated brunch to reminisce, share memories of their working relationship on the radio show, and reenergise their long-established friendship.
Both men – now removed from the daily grind of office schedules, the adrenalin rush to tackle relevant and impactful discussion topics, and the tiresome effort expended on tedious duties – share a common experience of scaled back responsibilities that accompany a “more mature time in life”.
They toured the newspaper’s offices, recounting old anecdotes, humming old tunes, and scanning the archives for pictures of events long past and of well-known people – some still alive today and others long gone. Through this shared experience, they kept each other’s spirits buoyant, at times, with short bursts of laughter.
Now ailing, Mr Hodge and Mr Benjamin extend their personal thanks and regards to everyone for their loyal patronage and goodwill over the years.
