THINGS THAT MATTER - Of history, patriotism and friendship
History, definition: The study of past events, particularly in human affairs; the whole series of past events connected with someone or something.
History, etymology: Late 14th century “relation of incidents, true or false”, from old French estoire “story, chronicle or history; Modern French histoire; from Latin historia “narrative of past events”; from histor “wise man, judge”.
The passing of my friend Warren Alleyne a few days ago has led to considerable rumination on my part on themes of historical research and writing, on integrity and the search for truth, on patriotism and on friendship. I first met Warren as a Council member of the Barbados National Trust, when he dedicated several mornings a week to dealing with memberships – mailing reminders and documenting subscriptions – all voluntary, unpaid work, done purely for the love of service, and the value he attached to the patriotic work of the National Trust. We soon became friends because we recognised a mutual passion for Barbados and its history, and this was to lead not just to a life-long friendship, but to a highly successful collaboration in historical writing and sharing our history.
I’ve begun this column with a definition of history, and a few words on its etymology or origins. This is very instructive, because the roots include the Latin word histor, meaning wise man or judge, while the early breadth of meaning is highly relevant – “story, relation of incidents, true or false”. The recent political comedy of “alternative facts” and “fake news” suddenly comes into focus, as do the terms used for the performance of “spin doctors” and those whose interpretations sometimes earn the phrase “twistorians”!
I always remind people that history can also be viewed as a compound word HIS STORY and its partner HER STORY (to be politically correct). And this view is also two edged – it’s not just the story of past events through people – human affairs – thus his story, her story and their story; it’s also the story related or conveyed by the student or chronicler of those events…the historian…so it’s also his, the historian’s story as well. Historiography, or the study of historical writings, makes it clear that there are often many and varied interpretations of historical events…some better studied and more correctly interpreted than others, and some biased by the beliefs or political thinking of the historian. And there is no question that personal views and biases greatly affect historical writings. For example, there has been a great deal written about the fact that colonial history was most often written from the perspective of the coloniser and not the colonised, subjugated or enslaved, just as a great deal of historical writing is gender biased.
Which brings me to the nature of Warren Alleyne’s historical research and his passion for truth and objectivity. Warren’s formal training in history did not go beyond the O level in history which he obtained as an adult, while in Britain serving in the Royal Air Force, but the rigour of his research is unquestionable. He follows a line of “amateur” or not formally trained historians, beginning perhaps with John Poyer, whose The History of Barbados (1808) was an ambitious but somewhat political and not altogether
accurate history by a well-informed Barbadian; in the last century delightful histories were written by George Hunte and Louis Lynch. Edward Stoute, like Warren a dedicated Council member of the National Trust, was another passionate layman with a penchant for collecting historical facts and stories of Barbados, which were published in the Sunday Advocate for some years. He was a chatty raconteur. The National Trust published a collection of his articles in a book “Glimpses of Old Barbados”. All three of these gentlemen could perhaps be called story tellers rather than formal historians, and the humour and anecdotes in Louis Lynch’s book were memorable. These writers did not have the formal training or environment of our much published university historians, Sir Woodville Marshall, Dr. Karl Watson, Sir Hilary Beckles, Professor Pedro Welch and others, but their contribution to the public awareness has been invaluable.
Falling in between was Sir Alexander Hoyos, whose diligent research and prolific writing and publishing was carried out in isolation, between the 1940s and the 1970s, without the context of academic institution or serious contemporaries, with the exception of Hilton Vaughan, too little of whose research was published. Much of Sir Alexander’s work was biographical, illustrating the concept of HIS and HER STORY to chronicle the events of the period. And he was the pioneer, teaching local history in schools for the first time, inspiring many students, and highlighting the lives and careers of our National Heroes fifty years before their official recognition. He was the champion of the Right Honourable Samuel Jackman Prescod and Dr. Charles Duncan O’Neal.
Warren’s approach has been that of meticulous investigator. He haunted the Barbados Archives and practically lived at the Barbados Museum Library (now the Shilstone Library). He poured over the old newspapers of the 19th century, the Lucas diaries and everything he could lay his hands on to reveal the details of events and lives of the past, and his interests have varied from the settlement of the Carolinas to the Second World War – from punishment of miscreants in the stocks to the eating habits of our ancestors. His weekly articles “It so happened” in the Nation deserve to be collected by the Nation Company and published as a book, in his memory. And like Sir Alexander Hoyos, he was an isolated scholar who thrived outside the normal homes for scholars – i.e. universities and colleges. Underlying it all was his love for Barbados and his insatiable curiosity. But he may be best remembered for his weekly articles in the Nation “It so Happened”.
As he often told me, one discovery would lead to a relentless hunt for more information to reveal a full story. With his extraordinary memory he would pull together facts from different sources to tell the story he wanted to tell. And he has shared his knowledge generously. He has, for decades, been the informal national historical information centre for many in the media and the public arena. His many admirable personal traits included absolute honesty and sincerity, and a most generous spirit. He valued friendship.
May he rest in peace, and may his daughter Catherine and the rest of his family be comforted by knowing how highly regarded he has been by so many for so long.
Postscript: As we follow the horrendous path of Hurricane Irma may we all do our best to help our neighbours and to learn the lesson of being prepared.
Professor Fraser is Past Dean of Medical Sciences, UWI and Professor Emeritus of Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology. Website: profhenryfraser.com