By Francis Quamina Farrier
AS one grows older, sometimes even before the ageing process commences, one begins to have relatives, friends, colleagues, neighbours and acquaintances die when the ‘Grim Reaper’ makes his call. I was just 20 years of age when a nineteen-year-old friend of mine died by drowning. It was a most traumatic experience for all of us, especially those who were actually there in the water, young and full of life, and frolicking around. But even before that tragedy, when in my early teens, a school friend of mine died by accident. All the students of the school attended her funeral. I was very sad. So, even before I became an adult, I had already experienced having friends die. On this first day of 2023, I reflect on a few of my long-time friends who died last year, 2022.

Radio Broadcaster Ray Robinson, like his cousin Ron Robinson, had been a friend of mine for decades. Both Robinsons were in theatre as well as on radio, and also in scouting. I first got close to Ray before I did to Ron, the younger Robinson. Ray was a six-footer and a bit heavy-set. As a former student of Queen’s College, he was a brilliant and rounded citizen of Guyana. Nonetheless, he never threw his weight around, physically or intellectually. In fact, Ray Robinson was always ready to assist others, especially in sharing his vast knowledge of radio broadcasting. Over the years, he and I collaborated on high-profile projects on radio and stage. It was he who recorded the episodes of my historic Radio Soap Operas, The Tides of Susanburg and its sequel, The Girl From Susanburg. His soft, luring voice, introduced each episode and closed them with the usual cliffhanger with his professional voice.

Ray Robinson and I were also in a production of the play ANTIGONE, one of the entries in the 1965 British Guiana National Drama Festival. He and I, and the rest of the cast, worked long hours at rehearsals. While we were not in individual competition, Ray was very happy that I won the Best Actor Award in the play. The production placed second overall at the Festival, which was our well-earned reward. The adjudicator was the celebrated St. Lucian poet and dramatist Derek Walcott. In those early days of Drama Festivals, adjudicators were never individuals who adjudicated groups with which they were involved in one way or another. That was never done. No such consanguineous relationships between performing groups and adjudicators existed in Guyana in those early Drama Festivals.

As I reflect on my late six-footer friend, Ray Robinson, I realise that his email address included the word “big” and in his last message to me shortly before he died, he stated, “I’m hanging in there.” It was the very first time that he had made such a statement to me.

Another dear and long-standing Guyanese friend of mine who passed away last year, was Boston-based Augustus “Gus” Corbin, formally of Lodge, Georgetown. Gus Corbin had been domiciled in Boston, USA, for over three decades. His voluntary work over the years, assisting his fellow Guyanese living or visiting Boston, is well-known and greatly appreciated by the many recipients. He was admiringly referred to as “The Guyanese Mayor of Boston.” Gus Corbin had, over and over again, performed patriotic acts as if he were the Council General of Guyana in Boston. As an example, he invited me to Boston to present a Poetry and Storytelling session. Everything was well arranged by Corbin, and I was surprised that after my performance, I was introduced to the Guest of Honour, Boston City Councilor, Charles Yancy, who presented me with a citation from the Boston City Council. All of that was carefully arranged by Gus Corbin. The email address of Gus Corbin included the word “durban” which is the name of the street in Lodge, Georgetown, where he once resided. In most of his emails to me, he mentioned the word “dreamers” in which he encouraged me to continue to dream along with him and to work for a better Guyana, behind the scenes, in our own way. He loved poetry, especially the poems of Guyana’s National poet, Martin Carter. As such, I included a few of Carter’s poems in my recital in Boston, which was the day before the deadly bombing in that American city.

Former Theatre Guild of Guyana actor Ron Bobb-Semple, who has toured many countries with his One-Man stage production, “The Spirit of Marcus Garvey” also died last year. In his younger years, Ron Bobb-Semple was a member of the Theatre Guild of Guyana. He and I performed together in several productions there, including “The Rogue’s Trial” directed by then Brazilian Ambassador, Paulo de Paulo. Ron Bobb-Semple and I also toured to New Amsterdam, Linden, Bartica and Anna Regina, with plays produced by The Dramatic Corps, an official fringe group of the Theatre Guild of Guyana.

Another long-time friend of mine and former member of the Theatre Guild of Guyana, who also died last year, was the brilliant actor Vibert Jones. Strikingly handsome and equally talented, Vibert Jones performed with distinction in several Theatre Guild productions, including “Moon on a Rainbow Shawl” which was directed by another long-time friend of mine, Ken Corsbie. The romantic scenes between Vibert Jones and the beautiful and talented actress, Aileen Morgan, were among the best during the Golden era of theatre in Guyana.

What is precious about friends, especially when they are gone, is the many happy memories they have left behind. One particularly remembers when one needed a shoulder to lean on, and that friend offered theirs. On this New Year’s Day 2023, let us resolve to value our good friends even more. To you, HAPPY NEW YEAR, 2023.

FQF – The late Ray Robinson pictured with his friend and colleague, Francis Quamina Farrier