Dear Anguilla Stamp Advisory Committee:
Please be advised that as you continue to have the monumental task, of honoring and paying tribute to “Anguilla’s Seafaring Captains of Yesteryear” (recent honoring ceremony that was held on July 7, 2014 at the Teacher Resources Centre, on the island of Anguilla), I commend your efforts, and am making an urgent appeal to you for humanitarian reasons; to share with you that I firmly believe that the rich traditional history of Anguilla’s heroic seafaring captains of yesteryear; must be documented on miniature postage stamps with a policy of transparency, fairness and inclusion. I am sure that many Anguillans, families of our seafaring captains of yesteryear, Friends of Anguilla and supporters would support my appeal.
According to Ms. Marcia Richardson (Deputy Postmaster) (Anguillian Newspaper – July 11, 2014); the seafarers had “unselfishly ploughed the turbulent seas, with limited navigational resources to help lay the foundation in which Anguilla’s economy now thrives”. If that is indeed the case, why are some traditional seafaring captains of yesteryear contributions recognized, (some names are just mentioned in passing), and many of those others who are similarly situated are not recognized, on miniature postage stamps that are displayed in the Valley Post Office on the island of Anguilla?
In my mind’s eye, our heroic seafaring captains of yesteryear had a passion to etch out a livelihood, by way of the “turbulent seas”, in order to be able to care for themselves and their families. It was also done in the spirit of jollification (to assist friends and neighbors) back in the day, when Anguilla had very little. I believe that most of them learned by doing, gained expert navigational skills, and used the resources they had, to make a way out of no way.
Our heroic seafaring captains of yesteryear relied on their strength, courage and endurance; to undertake a voyage from Anguilla (to such faraway places as Trinidad, Santo Domingo, Cuba, Curacao and Aruba), while facing the daunting task of crossing the Anegada Passage in vessels (that often sprang leaks in the middle of the ocean) and had to depend on which way the wind blew. Kudos to Anguilla’s brave heroic seafaring captains of yesteryear; (that also includes my late paternal grandfather Richard James Lloyd, and one of his sons my father Capt. Theodore L. Lloyd); who like all those seafaring captains of yesteryear that were similarly situated; sailed their ships on the high rough seas with home grown pride and weathered the storms to make Anguilla….what it is today.
On behalf of the descendants of my paternal grandfather (Richard James Lloyd (“Papa Rich” of Roaches Hill in the Valley), one of Anguilla’s seafaring captains of yesteryear (owned the Lady Lloyd and May Lloyd), migrated (or legend has it he found himself shipwrecked) in Anguilla as a young man. Let the record duly state for current and future reference, for the sake of an accurate account of Anguilla’s rich early traditional seafaring history and heritage; any recognition of the contributions of Anguilla’s seafaring captains of yesteryear or traditional boats on postage stamps selection process, must be conducted with a policy of transparency, fairness and inclusion. To be more specific, I firmly believe that “seafaring captains of yesteryear” (Richard James Lloyd and his son Capt. Theodore L. Lloyd) who was the seafaring captain of both of his father’s schooners; should also be recognized on a miniature postage stamp honouring Anguilla’s seafaring captains of yesteryear). [Please read “Traditional Boats on Stamps Process Needs to be Reviewed” – Anguillian Newspaper, June 19, 2003].
The Lady Lloyd and May Lloyd (point of honorable mention were built in Marigot Bay, St. Martin). During that time, Anguilla did not have any boat builders or boat building facilities. Both schooners were also a major part of Anguilla’s traditional seafaring heritage. For instance, they were fully operational and served Anguilla as passenger and cargo schooners (to and fro from Anguilla, to most seaports throughout the Caribbean region (including Trinidad, Santo Domingo, Cuba, Aruba and Curacao); as well as Anguilla’s island neighbors in the Eastern Caribbean. It was quite common for the Lady Lloyd and May Lloyd to transport passengers free; as well as the Government of Anguilla’s cargo that may have been left on the wharf in St. Kitts at no cost. Although both schooners were operated as my grandfather’s family business, he not only employed his sons as part of his seafaring crew, but also many other Anguillans were steadily employed on a long-term basis. In addition, many young men were trained and apprenticed with my grandfather and his sons as “seafarers” back in the day.
Moreover, as Anguilla’s seafaring captains often raced each other’s boats for fun on their return to Anguilla’s shores; that is how and why boat racing became a major part of Anguilla’s rich seafaring cultural heritage, as its national sport. Furthermore, the Lady Lloyd and May Lloyd was also among those schooners racing into Anguilla’s harbor on return home; while joyful women folk, families and children, awaited their safe return along the harbor, waving flags, singing and dancing to express their joy in the spirit of jollification, for the safe return home of the seafaring captains of yesteryear,
I am proud to share with the Anguilla Stamp Advisory Committee, that my dad Capt. Theodore L. Lloyd’s career as a seafaring captain, (in his later years), has the distinction of growth beyond Anguilla’s early seafaring heritage, where he honed his skills, as the captain of both of his father’s schooners. For example, upon information and belief, he was the first Anguillan to bring tourists on yacht excursions from St. Thomas in the U.S Virgin Islands to Blowing Point, Anguilla. Thus, the yachting clubs in Anguilla today are standing on his shoulders. At a later date, Capt. Theodore L. Lloyd, later emigrated to the United States, and spent over twenty (20 years), as a civilian employee of the United States Naval Service. Upon his retirement, he returned home to Anguilla during the 70’s.
Not only was my grandfather Richard James Lloyd an early seafaring captain of yesteryear, the contributions of his descendants intergenerational legacy, has a profound positive effect on our children’s education, and the major engine of Anguilla’s economy its tourism industry. As an illustration of my point, the late revered stellar educator Dr. Vivien Vanterpool in his article, “Wither Secondary Education after Fifty years in Anguilla” (Part I in the Anguillian Newspaper – July 18, 2004) stated; (“the Valley Secondary School became a reality in 1953, through the instrumentality of the late David S. Lloyd, the then Representative for Anguilla at the Central Government in Basseterre. I earnestly feel that the late David Sylvanus Lloyd was not given the recognition, he so richly deserved in initiating secondary education in Anguilla”). I may add to Dr. Vanterpool’s statement that as a general contractor, my late uncle also supervised the building of the Valley Secondary School that was later re-named the (Albena Lake Hodge Comprehensive High School), in honour of another one of our revered stellar educators.
The major economic engine of Anguilla’s economy stands on the shoulders of David S. Lloyd, who built the first accommodation for tourists “Lloyd’s Bed and Breakfast” situated in Crocus Hill and seaside villas in Crocus Bay. It is still going strong for over forty (45) years, and has laid the foundation for today’s development of its “upscale tourism industry”. As a point of honourable mention, another Anguillan the late Jeremiah Gumbs built the first seaside resort in Rendezvous Bay on the island of Anguilla.
To give credit where it is due, (an effort spearheaded by Min. Evan Gumbs), CM Hughes administration kept their promise and re-named our airport (former colonial name Wall Blake Airport) to (Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport) in honour of the memory of our very own first aviation pioneer; the late legendary Capt. Clayton J. Lloyd (aviation pioneer entrepreneur owning a fleet of seven (7) airplanes back in the day). It was because of his business acumen and pioneering efforts in aviation, that Anguilla has bragging rights, for having produced “more pilots” than any other island within the Eastern Caribbean region. Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport’s aviation services is owned and managed by (Lloyd’s Aviation Services) by David Lloyd who is also a grandson of seafaring captain of yesteryear Richard James Lloyd.
As Ms. Jacqueline Bryan-Niles stated during the recent seafaring captains of yesteryear honouring ceremony on July 7, 2014; (“it is an educational and historical reflection and journey into the very eventful past of the Anguilla of yesteryear. Through the miniature postage stamp our seafaring captains can circle the globe via air, and millions are afforded the opportunity to learn a little of our history and customs through this unique medium…our postage stamps”). Well said…it is a global story of our seafaring captains of yesteryear that symbolizes the true meaning of Anguilla’s indigenous flag motto “strength, courage and endurance”.
In conclusion, I firmly believe that in honoring our brave seafaring captains of yesteryear, we must also honour each and every one of them; because in honoring them, we honour the best within us with home grown Anguillan pride. Therefore, I am making a special appeal for humanitarian reasons to the Anguilla Advisory Stamp Committee; to remind you that as you continue (to honour our seafaring captains of yesteryear on miniature postage stamps); you have an obligation, a responsibility and accountability, to do due diligence with a policy of transparency, fairness and inclusion. God bless Anguilla’s seafaring captains of yesteryear, who risked their lives to etch out a livelihood for their families, and “to help lay the foundation in which Anguilla now thrives” to become what it is today. May the ancestors continue to hold our seafaring captains highly in their favor.
Yinka G. Lloyd Stanford
Thanks to The Anguillan Newspaper for giving me the space to express my point of view. It does not in any way represent the views of the Anguillian Newspaper or any of its employees.
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)
