I’ve put together this blog for chronicling some of the activities and memories from the days of British Guiana forward to present day Guyana.
Several others have also made excellent contributions:
John and Pauline Grimshaw
Peter Halder
Philip Jardim
Keith Gordon
Gwen
Dmitri Allicock
The more the merrier, so if you would like to write, or add pictures, or know someone, just drop me a line in the comments.
I too lived in Watooka for a couple of years and was really interested in your pictures and comments. I was born 1951 so you are not too much younger than me and must have been around about the same time. We left when I was 10. My Dad worked for a British company on a contract with Demba. I think I may remember one of your sisters?
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BobW (Blast from the past, couldn’t be better, Pauline I’ve sent you an email under seperate cover)
Comment by Pauline Grimshaw — August 5, 2008 @ 2:02 pm |
Hello,
I recently viewed some pictures of the launching of the R.H.Carr and at the extreme right there is a gentleman who seems to be of African descent. Folklore has it that my grandfather went to England to bring back the R.H.Carr and I wonder if the person in the photograph is he. His name was John Kennedy Peazer and worked as the chief engineer on the R.H.Carr. He died in 1945.
Comment by Augustus Rodney — August 11, 2010 @ 3:59 pm |
Hi Bob,
We have visited each other few occasions and started to go through some of the beautiful photos here and I have to say your site has lots of beautiful pictures and full of information and tips. I would like to add your blog to my blogroll so that we can visit each other more often.
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BobW (Chrisy, I’ve definitely been lurking on your blog. It’s fun to get a perspective from the other side of the world.)
Comment by visuallens — October 26, 2008 @ 9:54 am |
Happy New Year, Bob!
Comment by Scott Thomas Photography — January 1, 2009 @ 12:36 pm |
Hi Bob,
I understood that you grew up in British Guyana. My father , native German, lived there in the late 50′s and worked for Fogarty Ltd. He died a few days ago. I found a love letter from his former fiancee and a recent letter to find out her current address. Even if she is not my mother I would love to contact her about his death.
Can you help me searching for her?
If yes, I would be very delighted!
Thank you so much
Sabine from Germany.
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BobW (Sabine,Your father and I might have crossed paths when I was but a boy. I feel for your quest of your fathers roots and will help in any way I can, but suspect there is not much I can do. Maybe some other Fogarty’s employees may cross this site in time and can get hooked up with you.
One of the things you might do is check out another of my sites devoted to old time Guyana http://watookacoffeeshop.wordpress.com/. Maybe some of the group can be of some help?
Here is an old picture of Fogarty’s from one of my Guyana buddies.)
Comment by sabine — June 11, 2009 @ 9:14 am |
Unfortunately, I didn’t know any Fogarty employees, as the company had left Mackenzie before we arrived. They had started a business making hollow tile bricks out of clay from the bauxite mines. Our first house on Riverside Drive was one of five DEMBA staff houses built from Fogarty brick.
Dad
Comment by Evan & Katy — June 11, 2009 @ 7:58 pm |
Hi,
I’ve been trying to find a wonderful unusual spirited photo to use as the image for a postcard that my group makes for the annual Lake Superior Day (thrid Sunday every July). Stumbled on your web site and am DELIGHTED with your shot of the boy jumpinginto Sinclair Cove. PERFECT!
I print about 1,500 copies of a free postcard that we offer at no charge to those who are holding events for the public on that day. Can we use your image? If so, what text would you like me to print on the card back to credit you?
THANKS A LOT!
Lissa
lakesuperiorday@northland.edu
Comment by Lissa — June 15, 2009 @ 2:42 pm |
Hi Bob,
I recall that the name of daughter of the Wong family that lived next to the Crescent Cinema. Her name was Celina Wong. She got married to Carl Harewood. There was also an Evan Wong motorboat accessories store on High Street not far from Radio Demerara. When I was in Ottawa (1980-1983), I lived at 96 Howick Street, Rockliffe Park. I am amazed that as a Guyanese, I never met you. I had thought I had met all Guyanese in Ottawa. My sister-in-law Patricia Small ( once married to Leslie Lui- Hing) and her family live in Ottawa. You suggested that perhaps my Christianburg/Wismar/Mackenzie short tales may be published on a website. Since I lack the technological skills to do it, would you be so kind as to send me your e-mail address if you don’t mind and I will send you the texts. You can then put them on the website. Maybe visitors to the site would enjoy reading them and have a good laugh since they are all funny. You have my e-mail address : peterhalder@hotmail.com
Sincerely
Peter
Comment by Peter Halder — September 10, 2009 @ 12:41 pm |
Great archives on Mackenzie. Apparently an Evan Wong, J.H. Evan Wong (originally Wong Yan – Sau) held large tracks of land (land grants) on the Demerara River which proved invaluable for bauxite. (ref. Walter Rodney – A History of the Guyanese Working People, 1881 – 1905; and Cecil Clamenti – The Chinese of British Guiana (Georgetown 1915)).
Apparently many of the bauxite mines on the Demerara River were on land grants which were held by J.H. Evan Wong. He subsequently received significant payments for these land grants. This family apparently had close relations with Alcan and Arvida.
Are you by any chance part of this family or is it merely a coincidence.
Bernard Gouveia,
Spain
_________________________
BobW (Yup, I’m part of the family that you refer to but exactly how all those ancestors fit in is still not clear to me)
Comment by bernard gouveia — September 18, 2009 @ 7:52 am |
I am wondering who owns the pictures taken at in and around McKenzie, I would like permission to use the picture of the Grumman for my upcoming Memior, I travelled in that aircraft to Rupununi with Art Williams in the fifties but we were not fortunate enough to get pictures. I would appreciate this gesture of good will so kindly awaiting your reply.
Helena Martin (DaSilva)
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BobW (Helena, I’ve sent you an email. Where the photo is not mine I’ve shown the owner in the caption)
Comment by Helena Martin (DaSilva) — September 23, 2009 @ 7:24 am |
Hi Bob I am trying to find your brother, my old MHS buddy Scott Wong. Kindly give him my email address. Your site was sent to me by another old MHS buddy. Great stuff, brings back loads of memories. Especially those camping trips that myself, Scott and others used to make in the jungle.
_________________________
BobW (Will do)
Comment by Donald A Miggins [ Merchant] — September 27, 2009 @ 7:53 pm |
Sir Hello there Great to see these old pics of my home town I have recently been taking a lot of pics and posting them on facebook of Linden as itis today and would very much like to use some of your pics to do side by side comparisons of what you have and what it is today if it is ok with you, you can check my pics out on Facebook name: Allan Bakker I promise to acknowledge your pics as your work and your website as well. There seems to be an interest in Lnden and what has been going on here by those ut of the country and I just thought that it would be a good idea to d a then and now you your blessings and consent on this. Thanks for your reply.
Sincerely
Allan Bakker
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BobW (Allan, Sharing is good, email in the mail)
Comment by Allan Bakker — October 5, 2009 @ 1:44 pm |
I was born at Mackenzie Hospital and complete my education at Mackenzie Shool in 1954, but later leave for Georgetown to be trained as Motor Engineer with the Rootes Group. I later return to Mackenzie to commission the first Fire Engine to use at Mackenzie in 1957.
If left Guyana the same to join the Rootes motor Group in England, my early education at Mackenzie has help to accomplish many things, Flght Simulator Specialist in Royal Air Force where I served 12 years, a Brain and Body Scanner Specialist with EMI Medical Department and worked many hospitals around the world.
I personally have alot to be thankful for my early upbring at Mackenzie which has given me a solid foundation to build a successful career in England.
My father was James Thomas General Foreman for the exploration DEPARTMENT THAT CARRYOUT THE DRILLING TO LOCATE THE BAUXITE.
To look at those photographs really brough back memories of my boyhood day, many Thanks.
By the way Iam now a Professional Toastmaster and a Member of the Federation OF Professional Toastmasters in England.
Keep up the good.
Kind Regards. Derrick B Thomas
Comment by Derrick B Thomas — October 22, 2009 @ 4:08 pm |
Hi
I am interested to read the story about the R.H. Carr built in 1927 on the River Dee near Liverpool. I would be interested in contacting Pauline Grimshaw to discuss how I can help promote their preservation campaign for the ship on my Transport Britain website and also find out more about their plans. Thanks.
Can you put me in touch with them please? Thanks.
Alex
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BobW Will do.
Comment by Alex Naughton — April 17, 2010 @ 7:57 pm |
There are a few stories about Guiana, written by A. Hyatt Verrill, circ. 1920 on my blog. Some are historical, and some are fictional. Here is a link to Glimpses
http://stillwoods.blogspot.com/2010/01/glimpses-of-guiana-wilderness-1918.html
and one to a Verrill Index.
http://stillwoods.blogspot.com/2010/01/ahverrill-his-story-so-far.html
Doug Frizzle
Comment by stillwaterwoods — June 25, 2011 @ 4:45 pm |
Since my index to Verrill’s stories does not describe the contents and countries, I thought I should list the other pages referring to British Guiana.
Trail of the White Indians= http://stillwoods.blogspot.com/2011/07/trail-of-white-indians.html
Remarkable Mound in British Guiana = http://stillwoods.blogspot.com/2010/01/remarkable-mound-in-guyana-1917.html
Prehistoric Mounds and Relics = http://stillwoods.blogspot.com/2010/01/prehistoric-mounds-and-relics.html
My Boat Trip Through the Guiana Wilderness = http://stillwoods.blogspot.com/2007/10/my-boat-trip-through-guiana-wilderness.html
My Boat Trip Through the Guiana Wilderness-PDF-w photos = http://issuu.com/frizzled/docs/guiana_wilderness
Among the Amazons = http://stillwoods.blogspot.com/2011/06/among-amazons.html
Comment by stillwaterwoods — August 4, 2011 @ 3:03 pm |
Hello
My Grandfather was Charles Yong Hing (owner of C. Yong Hing Supermarket in Georgetown). I recently came across a picture of the supermarket on Flikr and inquired as to where I could possibly get other pictures of the Supermarket as well as pictures of Bamboo Gardens (the restaurant also owned by my Grandfather). I was directed to try and post something here and perhaps someone would see this and be able to help me.
Any help would be greatly appreciated as we cannot seem to find any pictures of either one of the properties mentioned.
Comment by Kim — August 11, 2011 @ 2:26 am |
Hello
Just came across your very interesting site. I wonder if any one can help me trace my family the surname is Croal, my grandfather was James Augustus Croal born in 1895 in Georgetown Guyana. We believe his fathers name was Adallon and he was a carpenter but also there were printers in the family. He came to England when he was about 15 worked as a merchant seaman and married and stayed in England but never really spoke about his life in Guyana. I am researching my family tree and would be so happy if we could find family in Guyana or information about my grandfather and his life before he arrived in England . Anything would be very much appreciated
Comment by Annette Wentworth — September 1, 2011 @ 3:40 pm |
I don’t know if it will be of any help but there is a Croal Street in Georgetown, Guyana between South Road (north) and Brickdam (south). There also used to be a Croal’s Drug Store at Norton and John Streets, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown. You may also check the Guyana Telephone Directory to find out if there are any Croal’s listed.
Peter Halder
Comment by Burnett Halder — September 6, 2011 @ 2:27 pm |
Just came across this info. Kenneth McNicol Croal, DOB January 20, 1933, died March 21, 2011, Husband of Elsie, Father of Liesl, Christopher and Amanda. Check
http://www.stabroeknews.com/2011/memoriams/03/23/kenneth-croal
Peter
Comment by Burnett Halder — September 6, 2011 @ 2:40 pm |
Hi Annette,
Me again. There are 19 Croals listed in the Guyana Telephone Directory. You may wish to contact them to obtain info about your family. To access the Directory go to
http://www.gtt.co,gy/whitepages/search.php
When the site opens, type in Croal in the Search space and the 19 names will come up on 2 pages. Hope this helps.
Peter Halder
Comment by Burnett Halder — September 6, 2011 @ 2:53 pm |
So sorry. I made a mistake in typing the Directory website address. There should be a full stop after co and not a comma.
Peter Halder
Comment by Burnett Halder — September 6, 2011 @ 2:55 pm |
Fantastic thank you so much for this information will get on to it asap. If you come across anything else please let me know. So very grateful
Kind regards
Annette
Comment by Annette Wentworth — September 7, 2011 @ 12:21 pm |
Hi,
I hapened on your site when looking for an explanation of the word ‘warrup’, which I couldn’t find in Allsopp’s Dictionary of Caribbean English Usage and which I found in one of Peter Halder’s stories. Thanks Peter, and I enjoyed your tales very much, they took me back a long time!
The question arose, I believe in the comments of a visitor to the site, of how the draglines Lord and King got their names. Might it be because these surnames belonged to people employed in the service of the government? (An E.H. King was Commissioner of the North West District and W.T. Lord – my godfather incidentally – was a surveyor, in the 1920s.) And someone might have thought the names properly majestic, as befitted these two imposing draglines.
My father, C.H.Parsley, was a surveyor in the same period, becoming, in the 1940s at different times, District Engineer in New Amsterdam (Berbice) and West Demerara. He had an abiding interest in geology and was in the 1950s the Manager of the Columbium Corporation in British Guiana, a columbite mining operation established in the USA.
My mother was Rita Cendrecourt, well-known in the Georgetown of the 1920s and 1930s as a soprano in the works of Gilbert and Sullivan.
I currently live in a village not far from Málaga, in Spain. It was a pleasant surprise to discover your site.
Regards,
Mike Parsley
Comment by puigpantxin — September 8, 2011 @ 4:21 pm |
Cendrecourt was the name of a major store in GT. There was also a Cendrecourt Drug Store at Ketley and Broad Streets, GT, Charles Cendrecourt, Chemist and Druggist. And the first Policewoman in Guyana was Diane Cendrecourt, PW 1. Additional info online: There was a Henrietta Augusta Parsley (nee Cendrecourt) born December 4, 1901. Her father was Joseph Cendrecourt and mother Catherine Cendrecourt.
Comment by Burnett Halder — September 10, 2011 @ 6:15 pm |
Hi,
Henriettea Augusta Cendrecourt was my mother. She married my father, Clifford Hugh Parsley, in 1938 I think it was.
Best wishes,
Mike Parsley
Comment by puigpantxin — September 11, 2011 @ 5:08 am |
I miss you so much Dr. Faunda Campbell. This is Jessica Harold girl. You were my doctor so how could you just up and leave like that? I wish you would’ve told me before you just left like that. I know you’re going on to Linden Hospital Complex. You know I had one son this year and another son on the way this November. Get in touch with me wgen you can. I’m having my baby shower on October 16th. My e-mail info is: jayharold10@yahoo.com
Wish the best for you and good luck!
Comment by jessica harold — October 7, 2011 @ 7:39 pm |
I recently came across a notice in Stabroek News, 2007, of the 100th birthday of Gwen Kirkpatrick.
Gwen was the wife of Keith Kirkpatrick, the first Postmaster General, and a friend of my father’s, Clifford Parsley, surveyor, civil and mining engineer.
A considerable correspondence, maintained by the two men between Guyana and California, where my father ended his days, was apparently lost when Keith Kirkpatrick died.
Does anyone know whether Gwen is still living?
Comment by puigpantxin — October 8, 2011 @ 7:58 am |
I am a Guyanese living in the UK for the past 30 years. I was born in 1960 and my best time of BG was during the 60′s when it was a colony, This website brings lots of memory of the olden days. This is the best I have seen of Guyana. Keep the good work going. Wish to see more photos of old Guyana. My wife was born here and I kept telling her about the old days and how nice it was back then.
Comment by Gary Naipaul — December 20, 2011 @ 11:35 pm |
Hi Kim: I am responsing to you note on Charles Yong Hing and photos of his supermarket, Bamboo Gardens Restaurant and Roof Top Night Club. During my stay in Guyana, I was a frequent visitor to the Restaurant and on Saturday to the Roof Top Night Club. I my friend Godfrey Chin has photos of both. You can contact him at his e-mail address godchin2@gmail.com Actually Yong High began his business, grocery and restaurant at Regent and Alexander Streets.long before he moved to Camp Street. I regret the lateness in applying for I only came across your note a few minutes ago.
Comment by Peter Halder — December 21, 2011 @ 2:26 am |
Hi….
My father, Robert (Bob) Devlin worked for Reynolds Aluminumn the mid to late 50′s. I lived there with my mother, Betty Devlin and three siblings. I went to school in Barbados but have many fond memories of my time spent there. Does anyone out there remember us? I would really like to hear from you.
Penny Devlin Matheson
penny0425@gmail.com
Comment by Penny Devlin Matheson — January 11, 2012 @ 9:20 pm |
Hello,
I have just been directed to this site by a distant family member. I’m doing some research for my mother-in-law who is trying to trace her family history. Her maiden name was Patricia Fernandes and she was born in Georgetown in the early 1930s. Her father’s name was Ovid Fernandes, and her mother’s name was Muriel (maiden name Tucker), although she was often called Dolly. Pat has sisters called Norma and Benita. Other family members were Aurelia Gumbs (a nurse), and Muriel had a sister (Christian name unknown) who married an Isaacs. Does any of this sound familiar to anyone?
Julie Smith
Comment by Julie Smith — May 2, 2012 @ 7:49 pm |
I would like to suggest you contact Mr Chris Fernandes, Chief Executive Officer, John Fernandes Ltd., 24 Water Street, Georgetown, Guyana. Tel: 592-227-3344: Fax No. 592-226-1887. A FAX to Chris Fernandes is advised.
Comment by Peter Halder — May 3, 2012 @ 4:40 pm |
Thanks Peter, I will try contacting him. Julie
Comment by Julie Smith — May 7, 2012 @ 2:21 pm |