A recent whirlwind visit to the Virgin Islands has left me wondering what magic wand passed over the islands and catapulted them into the 21st Century! Homes on every hillside; boats and marinas in every bay, nook and cranny; rocky isles boasting large resorts; and scarcely an uninhabited island to be found.
What a contrast to 1949, when with my new baby daughter, Suzanna, I sat alone on the beach at Trellis Bay, Beef Island, a remote, uninhabited island. Apprehensive then, I now feel blessed and fortunate to have experienced those times. The past being but steppingstone to the future, I now wonder what the next steppingstone will bring.
The reason for my 21st Century return visit to Tortola was the Wagner Sailing Rally 2015. Apart from the celebration and the activities, it was, for me in particular, another journey down memory lane.
I was happy when relatives of the people who had shared part of my life came to me to exchange greetings and little stories. For example, Rena Dawson, niece of Obel, Glanville and Desmond Penn, told me how her family had added a restaurant to my house, Tamarind, on my beloved Conch Shell Point, and that she had been married there. Moreover, in the evening she returned with other members of her family and gave me pictures she had taken and a keepsake picture of Conch Shell Point showing the restaurant and my house. I was very moved by her interest and understanding of my feelings.
I also met the now grown man who used to be the little Dawson boy who brought a slab of meat (when we could afford it) periodically to Trellis Bay.
Once again, I drifted into the memories. I could go on and on but, at the moment, that is not the reason for my writing.
Try as I might, I could not fully accept the “new Beef Island” without slipping back into the old days — possibly because the VI was firmly cemented in the 1949-58 time slot in my memory, and I had not been present during the “moving right along period.”
Work crew
Although I am pleased that Captain Wagner, his vision and his efforts have been recognised, I have felt concern that his work crew has not been mentioned.
Captain Wagner was not alone. I was there learning and adapting to an unfamiliar and unexpected way of life. He did not work with one man, or two men, or even three men. He worked with a crew and it was Captain Wagner and his team (of which I was an active participant) who built what became the foundation of the Trellis Bay/Beef Island you now see.
Regardless of what the individual jobs were, each man was a vital part of the whole. The fact that they have passed away is not reason to overlook or forget them. On the contrary, they need to be remembered with honour. They worked hard. They laboured with the basic tools of the day — no push-button gadgets, power saws, screwdrivers, drills or cement mixers.
It was essentially a time when strength of body, limbs and hands, simple human energy, got the job done. At times my own body would tighten up as I watched what they were trying to do and ached for them.
The men did not work for Captain Wagner: They worked with him. There is a difference. When I look through my albums of pictures I am saddened that these valuable men are never mentioned. Passing away should not be a reason for forgetting. They lived. They worked hard. They produced. And they should be remembered.
It is time to bring them back into the fold.
Remembering
Allow me to introduce Hubert Frett, our first helper. Hubert was important because he made the first step: He cleared the first section of land at Trellis Bay and became the best rock breaker.
Our second helper was Richard Penn. He wanted to be aboard our boat Rubicon, so he became the first crewmember and famous in our family by coining a new word for “dust.” He called them “little dusties,” the best description of dust I had ever heard.
There followed Glanville Penn and Henry Varlack, then Henry’s brother Kenneth, who used to bring me baskets of limes which he said he gathered along the way. Also, Kenneth was the best underwater worker. Next came Mr. Penn, whom Wladek described as a “man of all seasons and jobs.”
There followed Desmond Penn, Clarence Penn, Harold Smith, Lawrence Penn (our carpenter), Hugh Varlack (also a carpenter), Ronald Penn and Raymond, who became a waiter at Bellamy Cay club.
Throughout Captain Wagner’s notes, Obel, Glanville, Henry and Hubert were mentioned regularly as good and able workers. Sometimes our team worked on the airstrip as well, and I will write about that later, but right now I want you to know that it is Hubert Frett who put the last finishing touch to the 2,400 feet of runway. He levelled the last small mounds of uneven gravel with his bare hands!
Survivors
Obel and I — and possibly Richard — are now the last surviving members of the group, and I will take this moment to thank Obel in particular for his efforts throughout the years and his loyalty to Captain Wagner.
Also not to be forgotten is Myrtle Penn, older sister of Verna Penn-Moll. Myrtle was my only female friend and companion and became a close member of the family. She was always there to help at Tamarind, at Bellamy Cay and also aboard Rubicon when we sailed.
An important part of this visit was meeting Verna. Although we have e-mailed regularly, a face-to-face meeting was necessary, and together with her husband, Peter, we enjoyed a great weekend.
I may not make any more visits to the VI. The years and aging may get in the way, but be assured that the memories of both past and present will remain treasured.
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