May God Rest The Soul Of Renee Clarke

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GOD REST HIS SOUL

One name was on many peoples’ lips on Thursday, October 2nd, 2008. It was that of Rene Clarke of Durants Village, St. James. Or I should say, the late Renee Clarke, who died, unexpectedly, in Bridgetown on that morning.

Renee was known by hundreds, if not thousands, of Barbadians of all walks of life, as well as many ex-patriots and visitors to Barbados. He worked in the laundry at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, and his was a familiar voice on all the radio call-in programmes. A very political voice! Renee was a faithful member of the Democratic Labour Party, who helped Keith Simmons and other St. James DLP candidates in each and every run-up to General Elections. He campaigned vigorously and tirelessly.

I have known Renee Clarke since he was a young boy, playing, with my children, on the beach and in the sea at Paynes Bay. As he grew up, it became increasingly noticeable that Renee was a “peoples’ person”, who went out of his way to be helpful to young and old alike, in whatever way he could. Indeed, I would say that hundreds of visitors to the west coast learned far more about Barbados from Renee than they would have learned from brochures.

I spoke with Renee on the phone just one week before he died, and he was his usual cheerful self. It came as a tremendous shock when I heard of his untimely passing.

Farewell, Renee, it was a pleasure knowing you. We shall miss you.

My deepest sympathy to the family of the late Renee Clarke.

… submitted by Margaret Knight

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