In the summer of 1993, ninety-four year old Thomas Rogers lay on his bed and gave his story. Over a series of days in July, he was made comfortable by his daughter, Winifred; greeted by his granddaughter, Annette; and patiently filmed by his granddaughter, Karen. Further to the abridged telling of his life and times, he gave a sincere and considered call-out to the people of Anguilla – his people. He had hoped for his ‘message’ to reach the people, but his hopes were never fulfilled. Many years have come and gone: springs, summers, autumns and winters since Thomas Rogers passed away, but if his eternal sleep is restless, then it is our job to settle him. Twenty-seven years is a droplet in the vast ocean of time. The content of his ‘message’ remains just as relevant now as it did then.
1. ‘TOPPY’
Thomas Theophilus Rogers, affectionately known as ‘Toppy’, was born on 2nd November 1898. His parents, Thomas & Mary, had eleven children: eight boys and three girls. Sadly, four of their children died.
It is the 3rd of July 1993. In a weather-beaten old house in Stoney Ground, Anguilla, the old man lies across the bed that has come to know him well. No more dancing. No more running. No more fancy clicking of the heels. The hair is white. The teeth are missing. The sight is gone. His snazzy pyjamas decorate a life that has been lived. The old man is my father’s father.
By the grace of twentieth-century technology, grandfather has leapt over land and sea — he’s on a television screen. It sinks in: a part of him is a part of me, and a part of me is a part of him. Chest heaving, short of breath, he is determined to tell his story. He finally has the audience he’s been waiting for. Before the main course, he first serves us a starter: enchanting us with delicious tales of travel to Santo Domingo and the United States.
We learn that on the 30th of June 1924, he married his first — and only — wife. His bride was Eulalee Constancia Gumbs — born in 1900, the daughter of James Theophilus & Jane Ann. I give thanks to, and celebrate, the union of Thomas and Eulalee — for without it — where would I be?
Their first child, Ruth, was born in 1926. Two years later, came Constance. In 1930 came into the world their first son, James. Three years after, Carl Lincoln — my father – was born. In 1936 their third son, John, aka Bob, was born. Another three years passed until in 1939, Winifred sprang into the world. After a well-deserved rest, it wasn’t until 1945 that Thomas and Eulalee’s last child was born. They named him, Selwyn.
In the years after World War ll, four of his children: Carl, John, Winifred and Constance left for England, although after a time, John returned to Anguilla. Selwyn left for the United States. The cycle of life, beautiful and heartfelt in equal measure, see children flee the nest.
The unflinching repetition of seasonal changes has eventually left granddad saying: “l am alone.” Although surrounded by love on this day – the mask slips. No matter who visits, who attends to his needs, or whoever mops his brow, he is as confined to his thoughts as he is to this room. No more dancing. No more running. No more fancy clicking of the heels.
2. THE MESSAGE
Some time ago, Thomas Rogers had what can only be described as ‘an experience’. Whether this came about through a fevered dream, elderly mania, or divine intervention, matters not. What matters is that granddad believes in the words. He serves the main course.
“I heard . . . a voice,” he says. The look on granddad’s face suggests if he could offer further explanation, he would.
GET UP, the voice had told him, THERE’S WORK FOR YOU TO DO.
He prepares himself before he speaks. Having to catch his breath is now the price paid for breathing. “At my age of ninety-four years, I thank God that He has called me to serve in delivering you this message.”
The voice had instructed him: TELL ALL ANGUILLIANS THAT THEY ARE OFF THE COAST OF SALVATION. TRY TO GET BACK ON THE COAST AND READ THE BIBLE. THE BIBLE IS THE ONLY BOOK THAT CAN HELP MAN BACK TO SALVATION.
Granddad says his father had told him, “Life is like the snuff of a candle. It can be blown out. As you live, so you die. Live outside of God, and you are lost.” He continues, “Join a religion which has a priest, not a preacher. When you’ve got problems and troubles, go to your priest. Tell him your story, and ask him to pray with you, and to pray for you. Jesus Christ has taught us to forgive one another. We must change here, for there is no repentance in the grave. We bring nothing here, and we will carry nothing with us. I’ve been trying to impress your minds to believe. Your faith, your belief in Jesus Christ, will save you. No-one can save you but the Saviour who died for you. And you have to believe in the Lord, Jesus Christ, to be saved.”
This man has waited ever so patiently for the opportunity to get those words out. He seems aware that the camcorder, in a way, has immortalised his testimony. For some, these are the ramblings of senility. For others, the words will take on a greater significance. As he himself admits, “It has been a burden on my mind for nearly five years, so l hope it will not be in vain.”
In our ignorance, the wisdom held by the aged may slip through our fingers, like water. But if we cup our hands tighter, we may still quench a thirst.
It would appear, a great weight has been lifted from my grandfather. It is quite a thought to think of him hanging on, day by day, week by week, month after month – waiting for the opportunity he thought would never come. An itch he could never scratch. If cousin Karen brought that camcorder all the way from England for any purpose, filming her grandfather over those series of summer days was surely it. We give her thanks for documenting family history — history that did not slip through our fingers, like water.
Grandfather concludes, with a sweet: “I hope the new year brings you renewed feelings, for as you live, so you die.”
Thomas Theophilus ‘Toppy’ Rogers: An Anguillian Son
3. REMEMBRANCES
RIP Constance Marjorie Rogers SUNRISE – 5th March 1928 SUNSET – 23rd March 1968 Age 40
RIP Eulalee Constancia Rogers SUNRISE – 19th January 1900 SUNSET – ? August 1976 Age 76
RIP Thomas Theophilus Rogers SUNRISE – 2nd November 1898 SUNSET – 21st April 1994 Age 95
RIP James Rogers SUNRISE – 4th May 1930 SUNSET – 27th October 2000 Age 70
RIP Lynette Oreta Jacqueline Rogers SUNRISE – 21st November 1954 SUNSET – 22nd March 2014 Age 59
RIP Ruth Ann Lake SUNRISE – 12th July 1926 SUNSET – 4th July 2017 Age 90
RIP Carl Lincoln Rogers SUNRISE – 1st February 1933 SUNSET – 3rd December 2017 Age 84
RIP Hon. John Roosevelt ‘Bob’ Rogers SUNRISE – 20th February 1936 SUNSET – 1st June 2020 Age 84
Editor’s note:
The writer, Clifford Andrew Rogers, is the grandson of the late Thomas Theophilus (Toppy) Rogers. He resides in Birmingham, England. Toppy was the father of the late John (Bob) Rogers, who was a well-known personality in Stoney Ground, Anguilla.
