New BTA Chief Points To Humble Beginnings

By his own account, Adrian Elcock “grew up very humble”. “I can’t say I grew up with the gold spoon or silver spoon some people think that I have,” he said in an interview with the SUNDAY SUN.

“We grew up in a three-room chattel house in Bank Hall. I was eight or nine years old before moving into a small wall house.”The 41-year-old businessman was appointed chairman of the Barbados Tourism Authority (BTA) on April 3. He was chairman of the Child Care Board under the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) administration and later served as deputy chairman of Barbados Conference Services Limited under the present administration.

Yet when Minister of Tourism Richard Sealy invited him to be BTA chairman, he said he was “surprised”. Others within tourism circles also seemed to have been surprised, considering that Elcock does not have the kind of tourism background they thought would have been necessary for anyone filling the post.

But Elcock countered: “In terms of what the naysayers have said, I guess I too have gotten accustomed to seeing tourism being run by one group of people and one set of people speaking on behalf of the industry . . .

“It did not seem as if medium-sized businesses like ours that have been relatively successful in our marketplace were invited to be a part of it. It seemed as if those that were in it controlled it and they controlled who entered it.“I have never said no to any minister in any government that has asked me to serve,” he stressed.

He pointed out: “I have come from a family business which, by any definition, has been successful. I have been a large part of growing that business and taking it to another level with my brother, with my dad and the other partners that work with us.”

The family business of which Elcock speaks is Everson Elcock & Co. Ltd., which is currently celebrating 50 years of operation and of which he is a director. A major division of that business is Exclusive Lighting & Electrical Supplies Ltd. The company was the idea of Elcock’s brother Antonio, another director in the larger firm, and an idea which Elcock developed into a major business.

“I have always felt that our leaders have given us a tremendous platform upon which to build our own personal brand,” says Elcock.“I have been educated in Barbados. I went to Dorothy Smale’s Preparatory School, the Lodge School and then Pace University, New York City, where I graduated with a degree in accounting with a major in public accounting.”

After graduation, he went to work with one of the world’s largest accounting firms, Arthur Andersen, spending eight years in New York.

Responding to his brother’s idea, Elcock came home in January, 1995 to start Exclusive Lighting and went on to join his father’s business as director of finance. After all, this was the business that grew from humble beginnings when Elcock would observe his father setting out from home in a pick-up truck every day, though he was not sure exactly what dad was going out to do.

“My earliest memory of my involvement was going to Baptist House, a place my father had on Constitution Road [St Michael], playing with the red electrical tape, making cricket balls, playing with my brother,” he recalled.“When I think back about it, that was his [father’s] way of immersing us in the business. It created an awareness and I understood that what he did was what put our food on the table.”

In his early teens and while a student of Lodge School, Elcock accompanied his father as he traversed Barbados, calling at homes under construction, offering his electrical building supplies for sale. While dad tried to sell to homeowners, it was Adrian who carried the price sheet and quoted prices. Later, during his regular visits home on holidays from university studies, he did accounting-related chores in the family business.


Proud Barbadian

Elcock boasts of being “a proud Barbadian who believes in the capacity of our country and the capacity of our people to deliver”.

While devoted to his work, he is “a committed family man” to his wife Ann and daughter Sanaa. “Our family traditions and structures are very important to us,” he pointed out. “We sit every Sunday as a family, have lunch with my parents and my brother and his family. Teamwork is part of our family tradition.”

He is also an avowed Christian brought up in the Anglican Church and worships regularly at St George’s Parish Church.

Loyal friend

Elcock declares his loyalty to friends: “I believe in friendships. I am an extremely loyal friend. I am going to stick with you through thick and thin. “I am going to tell you when I think you are wrong and I hope my true friends tell me when they think I am going in the wrong direction.”

He has thrown himself headlong into his new job, clear in his vision of what he wants to achieve. “Am I attacking this job with passion?” he asked. “One hundred and fifty per cent. Am I going to succeed? You sure bet I will. I have that confidence and I know I will. I have a team that will support me.”

Lodge School In Line For Major Upgrade

Lodge School Old Scholars' Association 2010 scholarship awardees; Charles Cole, Lizza Grazette-Corbin, Ashlee Lowe & Franco Alleyne-Moore.

        

The much-anticipated physical redevelopment of the Lodge School will commence in a matter of days, but an expanded school plant should not lead to an increased school roll.

So says principal of the Lodge School, Trevor Pilgrim, who was speaking the school’s Speech Day and Prize-Giving Ceremony held yesterday at the Massiah Street, St. John compound.

Pilgrim said that the school is currently overcrowded at a roll of 1 067 and implored the authorities not to increase the school’s roll even more when the physical redevelopment is finished.

“We will have more space but that would just defeat the purpose of the improvement of the facility. We need a smaller number of students to function at optimum academic levels,” he explained.

Speaking about the redevelopment plans, he said, “The former principal’s residence will be the first building to be demolished. This will happen within a matter of days and phase one of the construction process will commence. Phase one will include the construction of two new blocks with two floors each, the demolition of the lower wing that ends at the music room and work on the memorial hall and Block G,” said Pilgrim.

“As soon as phase one ends we will occupy the new building. We would therefore no longer need the prefabricated wooden units which have sprung up on the lawn,” he continued.

The principal explained that the entire physical redevelopment would be done in four stages and will end in 2013.

According to him, it will encompass the whole school, but it will be sequenced in such a way that disruption to the school will be minimised.

“We will also receive a new hall, with a capacity of approximately 1 000 and a new and larger pavilion. In 2013 when construction ends, the Lodge School will enter a new era in its long and illustrious existence, spacious, comfortable, well equipped and driven by highly motivated staff and students. It will be better positioned to achieve its mission,” he said.

“No longer will we have to hold assemblies and ceremonies like this one in the open air and rent tents. The new hall will also be a God-send to the St. John community since it will be large enough to accommodate conferences and community events,” he continued.

Pilgrim noted that in the next three years the school body will have to cope with the noise, dust and industrial challenges which will be created by this large construction process.

“I urge our staff, students and parents to be patient and to understand that some measure of discomfort always accompanies change and progress. We will do our best along with Innotech, the contractors, to reduce as much as possible any discomfort or threat to health and safety that arises from the construction process.”

Source: www.barbadosadvocate.com

The Lodge School Celebrates Our Culture And Our Past

THE Lodge School was a sea of blue, yellow and black as students and teachers celebrated the 44th anniversary of Barbados’ Independence yesterday.

The annual event began with a military parade on the playing field and continued with a service of thanksgiving for the school and the nation.

The highlight of the day for the students however, was the cultural presentation which featured the many talents of the students, in song, dance and drama.

Past student John King also attended the event and sang a few of his hits including the popular “All Hands on Deck”.

Images of Barbados of yesteryear were prominently displayed by the second form students in their classrooms.

Organiser of the cultural display, Wynell Yearwood-Scott expressed concern that a number of students were unfamiliar with many of the items that were on display. The comprehensive showcase featured modes of transportation, childhood games and past times, life on the sugar plantation and ‘working hard to make a living.’ (JH)

Source: www.barbadosadvocate.com

The Lodge School Looking To Make Its Mark

The Lodge School is poised to take off and with the refurbishments planned for the St. John educational institution, Principal Trevor Pilgrim is suggesting that in a few short years, it will once again become the school of first choice for many Barbadians.

Pilgrim’s comments came yesterday morning during his address at the service of thanksgiving and opening ceremony for the week of activities for the 265th anniversary celebration, on the grounds of Codrington College, the original site of the school.

According to the principal major construction and refurbishment at the school is set to start in the first quarter of next year and will see several new additions to the compound, to help accommodate the growing student roll, which stands now at 1 067, the largest it has ever been in the history of the school, with over 200 of those students being in the sixth forms.

“There are new subjects on the curriculum and better students are being attracted to the school. School effectiveness continues to improve and there is a wide and increasing spread of good external exam results across the fifth and sixth forms every year. Our prowess in sports is legendary, I consider myself privileged to lead the school at this juncture when we are poised to take off,” he said.

Pilgrim said that at the end of the refurbishment, which is expected to take some three to four years to complete, they will have what “amounts” to a new school. He explained that this physical redevelopment, scheduled to start around March 2011, will correct years of deterioration of the physical plant and result in them being the recipients of a new hall, with the capacity to seat at least 1 000, a new pavilion, new classroom blocks and existing blocks, he explained will either be extended and or refurbished.

“We are also developing a strategic plan for the next five years [so] when we return to Codrington five years from now, there will be a new and modern Lodge School. Other entities even including this venerable College will be able to use our upgraded facilities for conferences, sports and community activities,” he stated. (JRT)

Source: www.barbadosadvocate.com

Fighting Back & Moving Forward - Concert Promo

Three Amigos

Fate placed the three of them at The Lodge School in 1979. Anderson Blood Armstrong, George Jones and Terry Mexican Arthur would actually meet each other a year later through a drive by Mac Fingall for the start of their destiny. The trials of school, the end of almost two decades of working with a top band, and more recently George’s illness have not torn their bond of over 30 years asunder. Mexican will be the first to tell you that he and the other two were not the most diligent of students, but each of them continues to hold fast to the motto of their alma mater: They Can Because They Think They Can.

There is an unshakable loyalty and friendship among the three that they say run deeper than the music, and bridge any distance that circumstances and geography might throw up. Blood and George found themselves in the same class at third form level and they would meet up with Mexican in the music room at every available opportunity to practise on the various instruments, and the only thing they have lived to regret was not taking their Spanish classes. They all smiled fondly as they recalled that prediction from the Spanish teacher. “The music was the common denominator, the gel. I guess over time it would evolve into what it is now,” George explained.

“I remember the three of us – just as we’re here – used to sit at the piano. I play bass, sometimes George, Andy hold the chords, or we would interchange,” Mexican said, with nods of approval from the other two. “One big piano,” Blood interjected. They would soon form a band that would play for concerts at school. Mexican hit the seas shortly after school as a musician and Blood got involved in Gabby’s First-Timers tent and later the Richard Stoute Teen Talent competition, joined the Untouchables Tent and did some overseas tours.

While Blood was pursuing his solo career, George was approached by the Country Theatre Workshop to perform at the Christmas concert and he looked to his buddy Blood. Blood brought in Paul Slater and his old St Giles’ schoolmate Cecil Oshaka Riley, who were both involved in Richard Stoute. That was the beginning of Square One and they would be joined by Alison Hinds and Winston Beckles a little later. Mexican heard the band at the Steel Shed on a trip home from the ship and without checking with the guys, he sounded his intention to quit after the six-month tour to join.

Source: www.nationnews.com

Lodge School Wins Under-15 Title By 29 Runs

For the third time in its long and stellar cricketing history, Nature Valley Lodge School hoisted the LIME Schools Under-15 trophy, after defeating Garrison Secondary by 29 runs at the BET Ground yesterday afternoon.

After resuming from their overnight score of 168-9, Lodge was eventually dismissed for 174, leaving Garrison to make 189 for victory. Garrison, however faltered during their run chase, falling 29 runs short of the target on 160 all out.

Lodge School coach Clifton Philips praised his players for holding their nerve and never faltering under pressure, especially after they were dismissed for just 106 in their first innings.

“When you are coming into the final day there is always pressure. But I believe most of that pressure is the one you put on yourself. I thought that once they managed to get up to 189, I thought that we could get home. But obviously Garrison, this being their first time in the final they wanted it very much, so we knew we would have to fight,” said Philips.

Philips, who has coached Lodge School for the past 19 years, noted that while they did not play Garrison in any of their preliminary games, he asked the guys to remain focused and to not underestimate their opponents.

“I asked them to focus and stick close to the basics, don’t go to far away from them; keep focused on the job on hand and to take each moment as they go and work from there” said Philips.

A visibly upset Garrison coach Elvis Howard, lauded his players for not only making it to the final but for also playing with grit and determination during the three days of competition.

“I told the guys from the outset that we are not only going to the final. We want the record to also show that we played very well in the final. I am so happy for my boys, obviously we are a bit disappointed that we didn’t win, but the fighting spirit showed today by my school was tremendous and I think the boys will be happy with the way they fought today,” said Howard.

Howard praised the Lodge School on their victory, but admitted his team let the game get away from them, after having their opponents on the back foot.

“After having Lodge on 126 for nine, we lost the plot in the last 45 minutes of the game and it really showed, because I thought that with 126 for nine the most we would be looking to chase is 150. And it came back to haunt us, those 28 runs that we lost by,” said Howard. (PH)

Motorcade Scheduled To Promote Concert

Please note the count down is on for Saturday, August 21st, 2010.

The organizers of the Fighting Back and Moving Forward concert have scheduled a Motorcade for Saturday, August 14, 2010 which will involve several of the artiste performing for the concert; Biggie Irie, Terry Mexican, Allison Hinds, Peter Ram, Salt, Mexican, Blood etc.

The motorcade leaves the Party Stand at 10:00 a.m. sharp with the group Freekz Customz leading. The convoy will make its way around the City of Bridgetown and its environs before heading back to the Party Stand. From the Party Stand the group will proceed to Wisers on Brandon's Beach for a lime from 12:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.