Band to jump in honour of Ratcliffe

The wait is over for those awaiting word about whether the Lucky Horseshoe Jump Promotions band will participate in Grand Kadooment 2017, following the sudden death of its designer Renee Ratcliffe.

Chief Executive Officer of Paul’s Enterprises Ltd & Jump Promotions, Paul Johnson, said, while the band was still struggling to cope with the loss of Ratcliffe, who collapsed not long after exiting the National Stadium last Kadooment Day, it will be taking its 11th jump to Spring Garden Highway, this year.

Speaking at a press launch for Jump Promotions, at the Bagatelle Great House, St. Thomas, on Wednesday evening, Johnson told the gathering, including the National Cultural Foundation’s Chief Executive Officer, Cranston Browne, that due to an “outcry” from band members, the decision was made to produce a band in honour of Ratcliffe.

“She was quite a strong character and very flamboyant. Obviously, those at the National Cultural Foundation would know the passion of Renee and what she felt about Kadooment and her fellow band leaders and designers.

“We just want to show you what we are doing and that we are actually going to be having a band. How it ended last year, we thought we would never be here again,” Johnson said.

The theme of the band for 2017, “Journey of a Dragonfly”, will showcase Ratcliffe’s love for dragonflies which was evident in her designs for her Kiddies and Grand Kadooment bands, over the years.

Ratcliffe’s friend and aspiring costume designer, Marlon Brewster, has been chosen to be designer of the 2017 band.

Giving an impressive overview of the picture he intends to create on the road, Brewster announced that the band will be divided into six sections with three individuals. The
sections are, “A Designer is Born”, “A Tale of Night & Day”, “Rise of The Phoenix”, “Butterflies & Steel Donkeys”, “A Toast to our Queen” and “Ode to Old Mas”. The individuals are being called, “A Wave of Hope”, “Dance of the Dragonfly” and “Queen of Kadooment”.

“Renee was like a mentor to me. She took me under her wing, so to speak, and rekindled my passion for design. I got to see her in her element at the mas camp creating costumes and I learnt a lot. At her home we spent countless nights in heavy discussion about the mas and costume designing.

“Renee was the definition of mas. So to have this chance to not only design an entire band in tribute to my dear friend Renee, but to also have the opportunity to put on real mas in Barbados is a dream come through,” said an excited Brewster.

Daniel Evelyn, will be the band’s Event Organiser and Sponsor Liaison.

As it relates to sponsorship, Johnson noted that it was expensive to produce an all-inclusive band and appealed to sponsors to come on board with the band’s management to once again deliver a satisfying product.

Ratcliffe’s uncle Alan Sheppard did not attend the event, but it was announced that he is going to be producing Jump Promotion’s 2017 theme song. Her parents were unable to attend the press conference, but her father Peter Sheppard sent a message which stated that while the family was not in a party mood, they endorsed the band’s initiative to pay tribute to their loved one. (AH)