Trinidadian by birth, Kathleen Bibiana Drayton, nee McCracken, moved to Barbados with her family in the 1970s to make this island her home. And what a gift that decision would become to the people of Barbados. For many, their first encounter with Kathleen would be in a School of Education classroom at the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus, where she was a lecturer. Others would come to know her as an active and vocal member of the governing bodies of a number of local schools including Combermere.

Kathleen started her teaching career with some disparagement. Her first position was a temporary appointment at a junior secondary school in Edinburgh, Scotland, where she much lamented having to teach, “of all things, Geography”. However, this was to launch her into a profession in which she truly immersed herself and excelled. Many have been the tributes from across the region, as those whom she taught, especially her Diploma in Education students at UWI, fondly recall her impact upon their lives. Of her numerous achievements at the Cave Hill Campus, Kathleen was perhaps most justifiably proud of being a founding member of the Women & Development Studies Group, and worked tirelessly to establish the Centre for Gender and Development Studies, which honoured her contribution in the summer of 2009.

Despite her commitment to her work at the university, Kathleen managed to ensure that it was not all consuming of her time. In the glory days of the 1970s and 80s when Stage One Theatre Productions was the most celebrated and prolific group of theatrical performers in Barbados, Kathleen was omnipresent. Whether it was at the Daphne Joseph Hackett Theatre or the adjacent Steel Shed in Queen’s Park, Kathleen’s contributions ranged from being producer, to simply working in the Box Office or front-of-house, where she greeted all and sundry with great enthusiasm. Beyond those roles, she was a key member of the Stage One management committee, at one time serving as its President. All that seemed to matter to her was that she was always there.

This writer recalls a journey from the airport with Kathleen’s son Richard. We had been talking about Kathleen’s involvement with Stage One, when he paused for a moment and asked, “Did she control that too?” We looked at each other with knowing smiles and, as if rehearsed, exclaimed in unison, “Is there anything in which Kathleen is involved that she doesn’t control?”

Not only did Kathleen put everything of herself into Stage One Theatre Productions, but also her house became its unofficial home. It was there that members of the Executive made many of its decisions. Following each production it was there that costumes were unloaded and laundered. And it was there that many of the stage props were stored for safe keeping. It was also the place to which all gravitated to be part of the legendary parties which followed each production. Kathleen was in her element. It placed her among people whose company she enjoyed, the atmosphere teeming with music, soca music, her music. These were the rare occasions when Kathleen never bothered about being hostess. Her interest and passion was the music, singing and dancing the night away. During such gatherings it seemed as if all musical artistes were given equal play, but in her solitary moments, one artiste was favoured above all others: David Rudder. Kathleen prepared for such moments with a deliberateness that others might reserve for preparing for mass. But for Kathleen, it would have been David Rudder’s ‘High Mas’. The windows would be flung open as if she was issuing a general invitation to her neighbours to join her as she celebrated her life in song. It was Rudder and more Rudder, ‘Hammer’ and all.

These social events also provided Kathleen with much sought after opportunities for bonding with young people. She truly embraced them all, keeping in touch with them even after they had moved on. She was a huge supporter of Stage One’s Youth on Stage - the theatre nursery for many of today’s actors and actresses, and was always in attendance at the annual end of camp presentation. Kathleen believed in the importance of family. In fact, the mere mention of her family returning for a visit to Barbados was a huge affair. Preparations for a December arrival would start in earnest as early as October. There would be a detailed plan with a time-table of action up to and including the day of arrival for each visitor. She loved and doted on her family, including her sisters, all of whom were younger. The grand children were especially adored and a Christmas tree was always in place to greet them.

Whatever she could do to keep the family in touch and intact, Kathleen always did. Amongst a treasure trove of papers kept at her house are letters dating back to 1918, all beautifully preserved as if some day, she hoped to write the memoirs of the McCracken and Drayton families. Had she decided to do so, it would have been a thorough and well documented work. Her innate skills as a highly accomplished academic and researcher could be seen in the manner in which she approached everything she did. She set about noting every detail, even the seemingly non essential, with each subject carrying its own file, clearly labeled. In essence, Kathleen threw nothing away. This writer recalls coming across a folder and seeing a letter which attracted my attention. As I started to read, the style of writing seemed somewhat familiar and as I continued, it started to dawn on me that I was reading my own letter, dated 1997, which had been kept together with others from me, written to her when I lived overseas, all safely kept in folders with the year clearly inscribed. I caution that if any of you have written a missive to Kathleen, no matter how long ago, no matter its contents, it may be that that letter now resides in its own file, clearly labelled.

Without doubt Kathleen’s forte was offering advice, always sound advice, whether solicited or not. And more often than not, it was offered out of a genuine concern for those she loved. She was never selfish in passing on her knowledge and sharing her experience. She deemed it her responsibility and sought always to encourage others. In fact, she took early retirement because, as she put it, “I’ve taught enough people for some of them to succeed me.”

Kathleen loved the environment, and especially her own garden. No tree could be trimmed without cause. Cut it down and suffer the consequences. Plants and floral arrangements always decorated her home, though she often bemoaned the fact that she could not tend the garden herself. But she would often walk around the house just to keep her ‘in touch’ with the garden and if she found anything which needed attention, the gardener would be instructed not only what was to be done, but also how he was to do the particular task. And heaven help him should he omit to do it, or even worse, do it his own way. His next visit would begin right there in the offending area with very clear instructions which would now have to be carried out under her direct personal supervision.

Every workman, every helper was told what had to be done, and how it must be done, for as far as Kathleen was concerned, her way was always the better way. It was hardly surprising that few of them were fond of her, nor was she fond of them for that matter. Indeed, many were those who received her reprimands, for she never suffered fools gladly. Kathleen simply could not come to terms with the ‘Bajan way’ of doing things. She believed in speaking her mind, attributing this trait to the fact that she was ‘Trini to de bone’. And needless to say, her mouth ran her into trouble many, many times, though what some may have interpreted as rudeness, she considered nothing more than speaking honestly and frankly.

But the infamous sharp tongue was only one side of Kathleen. She celebrated life, she loved music and dancing and partying, and was the consummate hostess. Despite professing how much she hated cooking, she was as proficient in the kitchen as she was everywhere else, preparing sumptuous meals and buffets for her many and varied house guests. Laughter would ring out when Kathleen and ‘the girls’ met at each other’s houses for their regular get-togethers, nicknamed ‘susus’ after the African savings groups, better known in Barbados as ‘meeting turns’. But these gatherings had nothing to do with savings. They were an excuse for forgetting the stresses and strains of daily life, and simply having fun!

For the things that irked her, Kathleen was not one to write ‘letters to the editor’ or take part in radio ‘call-in’ programmes. She went straight to the source. For those familiar with West Road, which leads to her Clerpark residence, you may either blame her or share in her delight. Ronald Toppin, MP for the area, can tell of the numerous letters he received from Kathleen complaining about the speed of some of the drivers who used that road. Of course, letters were also sent to the Director of Public Works. As was often the case, Kathleen’s persistence paid off and she got her wish when the Ministry of Public Works eventually placed speed bumps along the road. One day when this writer was taking Kathleen home, I complained about the height of the bumps. She beamed with delight and repeated the story of her one-woman campaign as if to a total stranger. As far as she was concerned, what mattered was that she had succeeded in getting the authorities not only to listen to her, but also to act, and the height of the speed bumps and any inconvenience to others mattered to her not at all.

Kathleen understood and employed the technique of lobbying to good effect. At Stage One she lobbied. At BARP she lobbied. Many will remember the position papers she drafted and delivered annually to the Minister of Finance as she was about to present his budgetary proposals. It was not surprising then that in the build up to the last general election, BARP presented its own Manifesto which was circulated to the political parties. She was immensely proud of some of the proposed measures which found their way onto the Statute Books, and no doubt there will be others which will slip through as an original idea for which there is no credit given either to their author or to BARP.

Although Kathleen was a public figure long before her association with BARP, there is little doubt that it was her tireless dedication to the Association and its aims and objectives which gave her true public acclaim. To many she was BARP. As one of nine founding members of the Association in 1995, she remained a passionate advocate for the rights of seniors, endlessly looking for ways to improve the quality of their lives. It was work she loved, and in which she deeply immersed herself, for it enabled her to return something to the country she called home.  She was not a philanthropist and yet she gave freely and without hesitation.

BARP seemed to be a vehicle through which Kathleen was able to reach more, and to do more. She lauded every achievement, and spoke with passion of her dreams for the organisation.

Since the launch of the health plan implemented by BARP and the Insurance Corporation of Barbados in 2008, not a day went by when it was not the subject of at least one conversation with her. She was ecstatic. An insurance company had at last dared to do that which she had always seen as being possible. Her death on July 6th 2009 was sudden and yet somehow not completely unexpected. Her work load in the last few years would have placed an intolerable strain on many of those 20 years younger. Apart from her position as a fully hands-on President of BARP, she served on the Boards of several organisations, and was actively involved in numerous projects simultaneously. At 11pm on the Sunday night, just three hours before she died, she was busy emailing colleagues about a radio broadcast she was due to do the following day.

Thankfully, Kathleen received many awards and honours during her lifetime, acknowledging her many achievements and the fact that her life was built around standards, with excellence as her trademark. Surely she would have wished to live longer to see the successful conclusion of more of her campaigns and causes celebres, but Kathleen Bibiana Drayton can rest assured that she has left many indelible marks and that there is no doubt that she passed this way.

This article first appeared in Fifty Plus, Winter 2009/10 issue
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