Have you ever wondered about talent? Some people have it and others do not. The Oxford dictionary defines it as ‘a special aptitude or faculty.’ Where does it come from; is it natural, in-built, just waiting to surface or is it something nurtured or learned? Recently I have been privileged to meet some very talented people here on Anguilla.

Carol Richardson displaying one of her handmade quilts

Ira Richardson, better known as DJ Richie on Anguilla, Calypsonian, Disk Jockey, Cake Maker, former driving instructor and insurance broker, is the epitome of what Joe and Joan Cozart from the OpX Group, based in Florida, a ‘lifeline’ for businesses, saw when they visited the Anguilla Chamber of Commerce and Industry in December 2007. Tasked with working with the Chamber on their five year strategic plan, the Cozarts had first to understand the island mentality and culture. According to Joe Cozart what they saw was a nation of, “diligent workers, who are always very busy with something going on.” DJ Richie has followed the whim of fate and taken opportunities where he has seen them. Thus, he started as a DJ as a young man in St Kitts on Radio Paradise as ‘Uncle Ira’ and continued with Radio Anguilla and latterly, Heartbeat Radio here on island. His mellow ‘radio’ voice makes him in demand over the airwaves. He has been writing songs for many years and has performed several of them in Calypsonian competitions on Anguilla. In 1993 he was selected to perform before the Queen on her visit here. This versatile gentleman now has a flourishing business making cakes for markets across the nation. From small beginnings making one variety, he now produces twenty cakes plus a day and caters for private orders from a variety of venues. “I have reached as far as Denmark by recommendation,” DJ Richie proudly states.

William Ferguson is a young Canadian who is currently the Resident Instructor at the Anguilla Youth Sailing Club. Twenty years old in age but much older in outlook, he has a knack for teaching sailing to the kids, which is a pleasure to witness. In Anguilla during his gap year, half way through his University of Newfoundland six year Ocean and Naval Engineering degree, he has been sailing since he was fourteen. He is a relatively late starter compared to the children he teaches. At present he is running an Easter programme of his own devising, for children as young as four years of age. This programme, despite the best efforts of the weather, is proving to be very successful in introducing very young children to the joys of being on the sea in a responsible manner. In the short time that William has been with the Anguilla Sailing Association, the Youth Sailing Club’s parent organisation, he has taken the club from strength to strength. In June the Anguilla Sailing Association hopes to take some of the more experienced sailors to St Thomas to the 2008 Scotiabank Caribbean International Optimist Regatta, to compete against a wider range of competition than is currently possible here on Anguilla. “They are going to see Optimist sailors who sail everyday, which will be good for them and to be at a regatta with many other boats will be an amazing experience,” says William.

Garvey Lake relaxing on the beach

A young man making a name in the world of music is Garvey Lake. At twenty eight years of age he has time on his side and a mature head on his shoulders. His band, Satisfaction, currently plays at several bars and restaurants across Anguilla, most notably, Elvis’ beach bar at Sandy Ground on a Saturday night. Having worked his way up through the ranks of some of the best bands on the island, he has sung with the Mussington Brothers and Exodus, this likeable young singer has the capacity to go far. Satisfaction has its first album out, Hold Me and dj’s across Anguilla are playing its music and broadcasting Satisfaction’s concert venues for all to attend. It will be interesting to watch Garvey’s musical career as it takes off. As Garvey himself says of his achievements to date, “Everything going good.”

Estate Hope, at the top of Crocus Hill, is the charming home of Carol Richardson, known locally as the ‘Quilt Lady.’ A knock on her front door brings a tour of her wonderful handmade quilts and wall hangings. Each piece is unique and a labour of love. From small quilts for tiny tots to massive queen bed sized plus efforts, they have all been stitched with care by Carol and show her unique take on the world. Her passion is fabric and she has used cottons, taffetas and silks from all over the world, both new and antique, in her work. She thinks nothing too of cutting up her own clothing to make a quilt if she thinks that is the right thing to do, “The bright material was a dress. I never went anywhere so why not cut it up!” she says practically of the red flowers in one of her works.

Artist Jo-Anne Mason is still exhibiting her beautifully detailed pencil drawings, Anguilla Botanicals, at the Savannah Gallery in the Old Valley. These works, her first exhibited for ten years, reflect her interest in the flora of the island and showcase her formidable artistic talent. ‘Control’ is her watch word and these precision images are deft examples of her sureness of touch in the medium. “Something like this [plants] is a real challenge to me,” she says, never having worked with pencils before. “Prismacolour pencils are a good medium for this kind of work. They can get down to a fine point, so are better for working with details and I have more control.”

Each of these examples of ‘talent’ on Anguilla, and it is not a definitive list for there are many more examples to choose from, demonstrates the great versatility of the people living on this little island. Tiny it may be but it oozes with interest, creativity, achievement and above else, Talent.

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