At the Teachers’ Resource Centre, on Wednesday evening, November 5th, a special panel discussion was held to reflect upon the life of an Anguillian patriot, the late Mr. Walter G. Hodge.
The event entitled A Centennial Celebration: The Life and Legacy of Walter Griffith Hodge – Anguillian Extraordinaire, marked the legendary acts of Mr. Hodge who would have turned 100 years on, November 2nd . The event followed a church service held in his honour on Monday, November 2nd, at the St. Augustine’s Anglican Church. Both functions brought to the fore many of the accomplishments of a man who had been truly keen and careful enough to esteem his country above himself.
To open the panel discussion, Walter Hodge’s eldest son, Kennedy, introduced his brother Pastor Gareth Hodge, who delivered a prayer of thanks his father’s life; the qualities he stood for; what he loved; for his devotion to his island nation; and his achievements. He prayed that as information would be shared about the life of his father, the audience would be able to glean the characteristics of a man who had the wellbeing of his country at heart.
Kennedy Hodge welcomed all in attendance and recognized the presence of the Hon. Premier, Dr. Ellis L. Webster, the Hon. Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Kenneth Hodge, as well as the Hon. Leader of the Opposition, Mrs. Cora Richardson Hodge. He also welcomed the Rastafarian group Roots Binghi, who played and sang “If I had the wings of a Dove”.
In his remarks touching the life of Mr. Walter Hodge, the Hon. Premier noted that life has no limitations except the ones you make. “This would be the motto adapted by the late Mr. Walter Griffith Hodge of Island Harbour,” he said. “If one would research the life of Mr. Hodge, whom I knew as Teach Walter, it would be concluded that his life was a unique experience, molded with great accomplishments, as well as some challenges, including early tragedy. But his was a life accented by many right decisions and a sense of adventure that positioned him into multiple careers — a legacy.
“Apart from being a teacher, Teacher Walter was a sailor, a shipwright, navigator, a legislator, and a revolutionary hero. He wore many hats, as he turned his interests into purpose. With innovative thinking and natural talents, he could adapt to whatever job a situation required. This versatility gained him a claim throughout Anguilla, and the region, as a true Anguillan representative.”
Premier Webster made reference of the many stories that Mr. Walter told, based upon his life’s experiences. He noted that it was mostly through the telling of these life stories that he, and others of the Island Harbour community, were drawn to him so endearingly. He reminisced over the sense of pride that was felt as a boy growing up in Island Harbour community, and said that such pride came from being around people such as Mr. Walter Hodge.
The Premier continued: “Teacher Walter was known at times to throw caution to the wind, literally, in search of happiness, adventure and creativity. He had a love for his family and this country which kept him as true as the needle of the compass is to the pole. Mr. Hodge lived a life well lived, in which he did what he wanted to do. Moreover, he made people happy. Today, I thank his widow, Sister Olive, and the children for lending us Mr. Walter Griffith Hodge for the time that he had contributed to this country and its people.”
Mr. Timothy Hodge, another son of the late Walter Hodge, was the moderator of the panel discussion. He introduced the panelists who comprised of Mr. James “Freddie” Hughes, Mr. Fabian Marcel Fahie, Mr. David Carty and Walter’s widow, Mrs. Olive Hodge.
Mr. Hughes remembered Walter as the kind of man who did his best to make life easy for others in Anguilla, even though life’s conditions were rather hard back then. “He prepared himself to succeed in life as it was,” he said. He noted that Walter was an “all-rounder”, who was able to do many things in order to survive. He also alluded to Walter’s work as a legislator in the House of Assembly and his dedication to Anguilla as one of its key revolutionary heroes.
Mr. Carty spoke extensively concerning the maritime experiences of Walter. He mentioned his mastery of the seas as a captain, a boat builder, as well as a navigator, an economist and a politician. He also alluded to Walter’s faith in God, and his fearlessness, that enabled him to accomplish many feats as a fierce seafaring captain. He referred to the schooners which Walter manned. Among these was the Thelma, which was one of Anguilla’s best schooners of the day. Walter had built the Thelma, through his rich talents of craftsmanship and amazing maritime expertise. Mr. Carty pointed out that it was because of such schooners that Anguillians were able to travel.
Mr. Fahie expressed his views of Walter as “a renaissance man”— one who has many talents or areas of knowledge. He deliberated on the conditions that influenced his careers and the many talents with which he was endowed, and in particular he spoke about the way of life in Anguilla that molded and fashioned Walter into the kind of man that Walter was.
Mrs. Hodge’s reflections dealt with Walter’s family life as well as the impacts that he had on his community and Anguilla generally. “We lived a happy life,” Mrs. Hodge recounted. She recalled the conditions behind him acquiring their first gas stove, how they enjoyed the moonlit nights together as a family, the delicacies of turtle meat, and even Walter’s objections to a newly purchased television.
Timothy mentioned, as a noteworthy observation, that his father left all his children individual traits and characteristics. He expressed that he left a love for writing poetry and reciting poems. He observed: “I had never known my father to write poems of his own, but he loved to recite them.”
He noted he was indeed a “poet lover extraordinaire”. He recalled on one occasion, when his father and Sir Emile Gumbs were cheerfully reciting a poem as a duet, with each of them rendering alternate verses. He claimed that his father really gave him a love for poetry. He stated that one of Walter’s favourite poets was Henry Wordworth Longfellow, and he recited “A Pslam of Life” as a tribute to his Dad.
– Staff Reporter, James R. Harrigan
