Rex Nettleford remembered
Professor the Honourable Ralston Milton 'Rex' Nettleford, OM (3 February 1933 - 2 February 2010) (Jamaica & Oriel 1957) was warmly remembered at a colourful and lively memorial event at the Jamaican High Commission in London on Saturday, 10 April.
Rex Nettleford's exceptional contributions to dance and other aspects of Caribbean culture and cultural studies, to higher education in the Caribbean and throughout the Commonwealth, and to promoting active citizenship were especially highlighted.
The program included performances by members of the National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica (NDTC), Reggae poetry, Tambu drumming, songs, introductions to Rex Nettleford's approach to dance from former NDTC principal dancer Mr Jackie Guy, and a video compilation of his cultural achievements.
Rhodes Scholars Keon West (Jamaica & Balliol 2006) and Se-Shauna Wheatle (Jamaica & Balliol 2008) accompanied the Warden, Dr Donald Markwell, who delivered one of the speeches of tribute to Professor Nettleford.
In his tribute, Lord Morris of Handsworth spoke especially of Rex Nettleford's support for the trade union movement.
Professor Barry Chevannes focussed on Rex Nettleford's connection of some 55 years with the University of the West Indies, as student, lecturer, professor, and Vice-Chancellor.
Dr Markwell spoke of the 'zest and enthusiasm' which Rex Nettleford showed in his academic and extra-curricular activities (especially dance and theatre) while a Rhodes Scholar undertaking postgraduate study in Politics at Oxford from 1957 to 1959, of his continued links with Rhodes House through to his sudden death this year, and of the warm admiration in which he was held around the world.
Dr Markwell quoted the Jamaica and Commonwealth Caribbean Secretary to the Rhodes Trust, Peter Goldson (Jamaica & St John's 1985), saying that 'the Rhodes community will forever remember Rex as a man who exhibited the best of Cecil Rhodes' aspirations of a scholar who was not a mere bookworm but one who valiantly and colourfully engaged in the world's fight'.
The Warden ended by quoting Rex Nettleford's fellow Rhodes Scholar Vice-Chancellor Ian Macdonald (Ontario & Balliol 1952) as describing him at a breakfast meeting in Jamaica in 2007 as being 'as sparkling as the morning sun'.
View the tributes by clicking on the name of the speaker - Barry Chevannes, Donald Markwell, Lord Morris of Handsworth.
For further material on Rex Nettleford, click here.
Postscript - 28 February 2011: Two books in tribute to the late Rex Nettleford were launched at the University of the West Indies (Mona Campus) in February 2011, during events marking the anniversary of his death - From the Heart: Eulogies by Rex Nettleford and Jamaica Mahogany: Tributes to Rex Nettleford – Celebration of a Multi-textured Life. For more information, click here (UWI) or here (Rex Nettleford Foundation).
