Growing up in Barbados
1943 – 1964
A 1756 map of Barbados showing parishes, towns, plantations, forts, bays etc by Mayo Williams.
A modern map of Barbados.
How did I get the name Cumberbatch? Well, through the Transatlantic Slave Trade my ancestors were brought to the Island of Barbados and traded as a commodity; then named after their slave owners, hence the name Cumberbatch. Barbados also known as the Rock is 14 by 21miles and is the most easterly island in the Caribbean and the first island you hit coming straight from Africa. The above early map shows the density of the plantation system which ruled the island for Hundreds of years.
The link below shows a map of the plantations and their owners dating from the 1600’s until I was a young boy.
https://creolelinks.com/barbados-plantation-history.html
In 1834 Slavery was abolished in the British Colonies and the slave owners were compensated monetarily by the British government for ‘Loss of property’ (A loan which Britain only finished paying off a few years ago!). For the enslaved Africans though, full emancipation from slavery was preceded by a contentious apprenticeship period that lasted anywhere from four to six years! This meant staying on their plantation and working to earn their freedom.
In 1838 my 2x Great Grandfather Samuel Holder can be found in the Church records at St John’s Parish Church as an Apprentice Labourer. He is now ‘classed’ as a human and not stock because he is baptised! This is the furthest and first sighting of one of my ancestors that we have traced back to (See the Family tree below and Baptism certificate)
Below you have my baptism certificate 119 years after Samuels’!
Religion played a major part in the structure of Barbadian society and still does today.
St Michael’s Cathedral where i was confirmed.
James Street Methodist Church where I was baptised.
A short video of Sunrise at St John’s Parish Church.
Maternal great grandparents
I can trace back to my 2x great Grandparents in the early 1800’s.
Family
My Brother and I hanging out on one of my trips back home… Can you see the family resemblance?!
The house we were born at/in
Norham Road, Carrington village St Michael, Barbados.
What the papers said on the day I was born!
The Front-page news from the Times and the Barbados Advocate on the day I was born both carried articles about the war. The Times home news featured Sir William Beveridge speaking on his report advocating for a National Health Service. While the Advocate wrote about a celebration in New York honouring Barbadian Richard B Moore, a leading human rights activist best known for coining the term African American.
The closest Barbados came to the war was the sinking of the ship Cornwallis in 1942 by a German U-boat torpedo in Carlisle Bay which breached the torpedo nets. I grew up listening to tales of the event.
Photo of the damaged Cornwalis.
Photo of Carlisle Bay Harbour in 1955.
Examples of Barbados life
All Black and white photos courtsey of National Archives
Busby Alley, A typical market scene in Bridgetown. People from all over the country would grow their own produce and come to town to sell as much as possible. They were called Hawkers, today you might call them vendors or merchants.
Due to the Abundance of Flying Fish around the Island, the Government at the time identified it as a convenient source of protein to feed the enslaved Africans. Now in modern day Barbados we have adopted it as one of our National dishes along with Cou-Cou and Mauby!
The Mauby Woman. Circa 1946. This was a common and welcome sight in Barbados growing up. Mauby a traditonal drink made from a tree bark with loads of Sugar and spices to counteract the bitterness. An acquired taste, but a cold glass of mauby is the best thirst-quencher on a hot day!
Broad Street, Bridgetown, Barbados 1955. Many a Saturday morning during my teens you could find me liming in front of the Ideal Department Store. Hanging out with the boys and watching the world go by… Not getting into trouble at all!
A Mobile Cinema. Circa 1950’s, Barbados. We discovered this photo in the ‘Caribbean through a lens’ Exhibition from the National Archives at Kew many years ago. My Daughter saw it and asked me: ‘Dad, did you ever go to one of these?’ And I responded ‘Of, course!’ It used to be a real treat to go and see a picture movie mainly comodies with Charlie Chaplain, Bud and Lou always starting with the national anthem followed by the Pathe news! Before the days of television in your own home.
Home Life
At the tender age of nine my Mother who was only 42 died and my Brother and I were brought up by my Father. The items below are things you would typically find in a Bajan home and the ones that stick in my memory the most.
Ironing Combs. A staple in our house. I would regularly see my Mother and her Sisters using these at home.
Irons. These were our irons of the time. Heated on fire because electricity was not a staple in everybody’s homes.
Redifusion Radios! This was how we received news and some music into our homes.
A Mortar and pestle is a cultural item, a symbol of African heritage. This particular mortar and pestle was a gift from Mickey Haynes who made it. Mickey was a Joiner by trade, a community legend and a close family friend.
A larder where we stored foood.
Queens Park, Bridgetown
This is the entrance to Queen’s Park and a stones throw away from where I used to live in Constitution Road. When I was growing up here, this was called ‘The Governor’s gate’ as we were still under Colonial rule. After independence in 1966 it became The Governor general’s gate. A small but significant change.
Christmas morning in the park with the Barbados Defence Force Police Band. A tradition dating back to when I was a boy. It would also be the site for Annual Fairs and Exhibitions that would come to the island.
The playing fields at Queens Park. An area I used to play Cricket and Football at and was also the home of my favourite team the Spartans!
The Hurricane Season
The Hurricane season is something we live with in the Caribbean and my worst experience was Hurricane Janet in 1955. These photo’s show the carnage (Pre and post Janet) where my father worked driving a Launch which took passengers and towed lighters with cargo to and from ships anchored in Carlisle Bay an open harbour.
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Schooling & Badges
St Giles elementary school badge.
Motto: ‘Together We Strive For Excellence.’
St Giles elementary school badge.
Motto: ‘Together We Strive For Excellence.’
My secondary school Combermere badge.
Motto: ‘Religione, Humanitate, Industria.’
My Barbados Regiment badge. Being a Boy Scout and then a school Cadet I naturally progressed into the Barbados Regiment.
Although I passed my 11+ examination school was not my favourite and I did not complete secondary schooling to exam level. Instead, I started an apprenticeship in mechanical engineering and left after two years to join the Merchant Navy.
Adventure by sea
Looking for opportunities to make my fortune… There weren’t many jobs available for the people on the island, so many chose to find work outside the shores of Barbados. One of the most attractive jobs to us ‘Town Boys’ of the time was to become a seaman! They got to travel, see the world and on their return would bring back stories of a world I wanted to see… They could also afford to buy a drink for the boys!
British recruitment drive in Barbados circa, 1950
When the NHS, British Army, Lyon’s Corner Shops, London Underground and London Transport offered opportunities of employment in the UK, I chose London Transport and the buses. After a successful interview just like in the photo, I attended a short preparation course and I was ready.
Photo of Barbadian young men being interviewed.
The five year plan
Like many of us with we had a five year plan, take the opportunity England offered, make loads of money, return home and live out our dreams.
I also wanted to return to the Merchant Navy if the chance came up to become an officer. On the day of my departure 16th September 1964 from Seawell airport now called the Grantley Adams airport. There was a mix of emotions, excitement that I was beginning an adventure and not knowing what the future holds. Also the sadness of missing friends, family and my young one year old daughter Debra Evadney.
