With an inquiring mind and a quantity of photo images, tapes and newspaper clippings from his archives to share, Paul Ketteridge, from North Buckinghamshire, England, has returned to Anguilla for the Golden Jubilee of the Anguilla Revolution, some earlier portions he experienced at first hand in 1967.
“I came to Anguilla in February 1967 as a Public Works Engineer for the extension of the western end of the airfield funded under the British Government’s aid programme,” he told The Anguillian. “I experienced what took place because I was here from February to be beginning of June. I was the last person to visit Government House at Landsome before it was razed to the ground [by fire] because I had paid a courtesy call to the Warden, Mr. Vincent Byron.’
Mr. Ketteridge recalled shooting incidents in different parts of the island including Lloyd’s hotel on Saturday, 27th May where the Acting Warden, who replaced Mr. Byron, as well as Peace Corps Volunteers, were staying. To substantiate the attack on the hotel, he brought with him a frayed bullet taken from a wooden area of the building for presentation to a member of the Lloyd’s family.
He continued: “On Monday, 29th May, 1967, following a meeting in Burrowes Park, the people went to the police station and told the police they wanted them to leave the island by 10.30 the following day, 30th May. They blocked the airfield, with the machinery from the works that were taking place there, to stop the landing of an aeroplane they thought was going to arrive from St. Kitts with police reinforcements.
“During that day, schools and shops were closed and everything was quiet. I think, understandably, people wondered what was going to happen but it was still very peaceful…The next day, the people of Anguilla put together a petition which Reverend Carty led a delegation to St. Kitts to see Governor Sir Fred Phillips to tell him that they wanted separation from St. Kitts. There was a very clear and concise petition and in answer to the question whether he had any message for the people of Anguilla, Premier Bradshaw said one word – ‘No’. Reverend Carty came back and a state of emergency had been declared, and the peopled of Anguilla moved on from there and eventually they achieved what they wanted to achieve.”
Asked about his thoughts of the revolution, Mr. Ketteridge replied:” I had learnt quite a lot about the people of Anguilla and the island. To me, it was a beautiful island with wonderful people. Generally speaking, they were very peaceful, but it was obvious that there had been no development – no electricity, no telephones; the roads were in very poor condition – they were limestone roads – except a couple of surfaced roads in The Valley; and the water supply was really difficult. Really, the people of the island had been forgotten.’ Because I had a camera I took slides and used my tape recorder to make recordings; and the photographs I now have were taken from the slides and, fortunately, the quality has been maintained over the years.”
Mr. Ketteridge continued: “The first time I came back to Anguilla was in 1991 and I saw lots of changes. I came back again in 1997. I am here now because I wrote to your Chief Minister and your Governor to inquire what was happening to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Anguilla Revolution. What I find of interest is that the 50th Anniversary falls on the same day of the week. The 30th of May 1967 fell on a Tuesday and the 30th of May 2017 is also on a Tuesday. I sent out a number of my archives to a number of people and I have now come to share in your celebrations. I have brought some further archived information and I am here until the 5th of June.”
On the current situation on the island, Mr. Ketteridge commented: ‘‘It is a very mixed comparison, with before, because Anguilla has achieved a great deal in terms of development that was sorely needed. One of the great concerns at the time was about how Anguilla could be developed, and it was realised, by some people ,that the best way to develop the island was actually to go at the top end of the tourism market. The island couldn’t accommodate the lower end so easily but the top end had a great potential – with the beautiful beaches the island has and that has been achieved.
“The infrastructural development which was sorely needed has taken place over the years and I am very pleased that Anguilla has a wonderful electricity supply; a wonderful water system with a desalination plant and reservoirs on Crocus Hill that feed the island. All that and other infrastructure is very good on the plus side. I think, talking to a couple of people since I have been here, …one of the things that is unfortunate is that Anguilla was never self-sufficient in food, and now is fully dependent on imported food. In a way, you can say that this is one of the downsides but then the United Kingdom was never self-sufficient in food either.”
Mr. Ketteridge feels particularly honoured to have had the opportunity to be in Anguilla during that decisive period of the island’s modern history. He is delighted to have been able to share copies of his documents, photographs, and other artifacts with the people of Anguilla which he carefully collected and preserved.
He cherishes very fond memories of Anguilla including his enjoyable stay at what was then the Banks family’s guesthouse in The Valley. He takes this opportunity to offer all Anguillians his very best wishes on the 50th Anniversary of the Anguilla Revolution and for the future.
Incidentally, some of Mr. Kitteridge’s archival material is contained in the Department of Youth & Culture’s 2017 – 2018 Culture and Arts Calendar.
