Sir Charles Williams - 60 Years Of Moving The Earth To Please by Nation Publishing Co. Limited

Sunday, November 22, 2020

AM ABSOLUTELY delighted to be able to offer these few words of appreciation to Sir Charles Williams, a true Barbadian patriot who has dedicated his entire life to the advancement of his country. For 60 years he has moved the earth to please — and Barbados has been a significant beneficiary. Today, as we salute him on his retirement as chairman of the C.O. Williams Group of Companies, I’m almost tempted to ask why. Why is he retiring? Yes, he does not stand as erect as he did 25 years ago; and yes, his steps are a little slower than they used to be, but Sir Charles is as vigorous in his defence of company and country as he has ever been. In all of our recent encounters, particularly those over the past year or so, I have had no choice but to marvel at the fact that age has not dulled his interest in business or politics generally, and certainly not in his desire to see new commercial ventures landing on our shores. I have no doubt that for a little while, at least, Sir Charles’ retirement will be more a matter of formality than reality. Individuals of his calibre, people whose success has been built on hard work and devotion to a cause, are possessed of a passion that runs through their veins, a fervour that is dulled only by the Maker’s call. Thankfully, the name Sir Charles — or perhaps more appropriately COW — is certain to live on in the story of Barbados for generations to come, because his success is reflected in the significant number of Barbadian businesses whose founders got their start at C.O. Williams Construction; the roads that criss-cross this land that have been built by the operators of those blue and yellow earth movers; the fields and hill of C.O. Williams Farms that have helped to feed us; and of course the Apes Hill polo and golf ventures, Port St Charles and Millennium Heights that have brought foreign exchange to our country when we needed it most. And yes, decades of outspokenness have

made him a lightning rod for criticism from many quarters, but standing a mere five feet, seven inches tall and just 165 pounds, Sir Charles has defended himself, his company and his philosophy like a genuine heavyweight fighter. I recall that when Sir Charles was conferred with the Honorary Doctorate of Laws by the University of the West Indies

in 2003, Architectural Historian Sir Henry Fraser, in reading the citation, described him as someone who does not like “fuss or red tape”. If I did not know that before, performing the tasks of Prime Minister and minister with responsibility for Town Planning, has certainly made it clear. He is forever filled with ideas, and there is always a plan to be approved — and few things arouse his energy like a plan slowed by civil service bureaucracy. While Sir Charles’ story in construction started in 1960 when he bought his first second-hand truck and founded C.O. Williams Construction and developed it into one of the most recognisable symbols in the regional sector, his drive to “make something of himself” started much earlier. From the halls of Combermere and The Lodge School, Sir Charles moved on to

“UWI”, not the campus at Cave Hill, St Augustine or Mona, but as he put it, the University of Work and Industry, where, as an overseer at Bulkeley Dairy Farm his constant companions from before sunrise until well after sunset for seven days per week were cows. By your living, Sir Charles, you have ably demonstrated that a person’s starting position ought not to be the sole determinant of where he ends up. Your success is truly worthy of emulation. I salute you on your success. I salute you for sharing that success with Barbados. I wish you a long and happy retirement. You deserve it. You have earned it. But I know we have not seen or heard the last of you, for your journey to the horizon is only now starting. — Mia Amor Mottley, QC, MP, Prime Minister of Barbados

Sunday, November 22, 2020

By KEITH MILLER

NIGHTED by Queen Elizabeth II in 2000 for his outstanding contribution to Barbados’ development in agriculture, construction, tourism and sports, but still universally known by his schoolboy nickname of ‘Cow’, Sir Charles Othniel Williams has devoted his entire life to a relentless pursuit of success in a remarkable range of business interests and leisure activities. Born on the November 24, 1932, at Ashford Plantation in St John, where his father Elliott was employed as a manager, Charles Othniel did not have to live long to discover how tough life can be. When Elliott Williams was dismissed through no fault of his own, the family was evicted from the manager’s quarters and put out onto the street penniless. Largely dependent on charitable goodwill, Elliott took any kind of menial work that came his way until he eventually got a job as manager at Edgehill Plantation. That early introduction to genuine hardship made an indelible impression on Charles Othniel’s young mind and set the tone for his family’s industrious approach to life in the years that followed. Long days of hard work were routine, growing food to survive was the norm, making a few dollars on the side was essential. If the nine Williams children wanted anything, they had to earn their own money to pay for it. By the time Charles Othniel turned 12, in addition to milking cows, raising chickens, pigs, goats, calves, breeding rabbits and keeping bees, he was already working as a leader boy on a team of mules, doing the work of a grown man, as well as diving up and preparing sea urchin roe to sell. And he enjoyed doing it all. “Hard work never scared me and I was always happy to make an extra buck. That work ethic has followed me throughout my life.” Charles Othniel Williams became forever known as ‘Cow’ after being labelled that by a teacher on his first day at The Lodge School. When he left Lodge

at 18, Cow went to work in the agriculture sector, while continuing to expand his extra money-making activities, including running commercial fishing boats and sexing chickens for the poultry industry, both of which generated significant income. Thanks to his willingness to “work from before the sun came up until long after it went down”, Cow did well enough within the first nine years to earn himself the right to lease Forster Hall Plantation in St Joseph. Around that same time, 1960, in what turned out to be a pivotal moment in his life, desperately needing a tractor to carry out agricultural work on the farm, Cow invested in a second-hand Caterpillar D6. He knew that acquiring the D6 would not only save him money, but also make money by doing work on other farms. But, as enterprising and determined as ever, rather than stopping there, he pushed himself harder and used the tractor to do earth moving jobs in the construction sector. Just ten years later, after acquiring an impressive list of international clients, Cow established C.O. Williams Construction. Today, C.O. Williams Construction is one of the top companies in the Caribbean, having successfully undertaken numerous major projects in Barbados, St Lucia, St Vincent, Antigua and the Bahamas, ranging from harbours to airports, hydro-electric power plants and golf courses. However, the most iconic success for both the company and Cow himself was

Sunday, November 22, 2020

• From Page 4E. building the multi-million-dollar Hess Oil Terminal in St Lucia. Always willing to take a calculated risk and back himself as a winner, Cow accepted that hugely challenging job, “Even though at the time I didn’t know how to put up a storage tank, never mind a whole transhipment facility with a big harbour for oil tankers!” As a construction man who invested heavily in land, Cow Williams transitioned successfully into development, being the

first person to develop the area known today as the Warrens commercial centre. He also built Millennium Heights and played a leading role in the creation of the island’s first residential marina at Port St Charles, as well as delivering Apes Hill Club, an upmarket residential community developed around a magnificent golf course and polo centre. During his journey to becoming one of the Caribbean’s most prominent businessmen and landowners, Cow still found enough

time to passionately pursue his favourite hobbies of polo, sportfishing and horse racing. And he excelled in them all! In 2009, his Apes Hill Club polo team won the prestigious Queens Cup in England. In 2015, aged 82, Sir Charles Williams entered the Guinness Book of Records as the World’s Oldest Active Polo Player. And in 2017 he was the recipient of the Hurlingham Polo Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award, quite remarkably for his contribution to the development of polo in England. Cow’s love of horses also naturally led him into racing, where he has produced generations of top-class horses, winning the Barbados Champion Breeder of the Year twelve times in a row. As an accomplished fisherman, Cow’s boats have won a number of international fishing competitions, while he has personally registered several record catches. Perhaps the highlight of his career was participating in the 2018 Offshore World

Championship in Costa Rica, at the sprightly age of 85. Very few people have experienced a life that is as multi-faceted and deeply textured as that of Cow Williams. He is a living legend from a period when life was much more rugged and people much less sensitive, a man who has been equally at ease rubbing shoulders with workers, tycoons and royalty. As such, it is impossible to encapsulate his story in a short article like this, particularly because the greatest interest value can be found in the gritty details of the dramatic real-world adventures behind his many achievements. To learn more about the life of Sir Charles ‘Cow’ Williams, you can read his recently released autobiography, COW – My Story, which is available at retail outlets islandwide or online at BarbadosBooks.com. For further information please contact Miller Publishing Company at (246) 4216700 or keith@millerpublishing.net

Sunday, November 22, 2020

by Charles E. Williams (Teddy), Managing Director, C.O.Williams Construction Limited.

T IS NO EASY task to find the appropriate words to describe the life of a man so driven to succeed at whatever he put his mind to. In his first 87 years, Sir Charles has attempted and mastered a more diverse collection of disciplines than most people can even begin to dream about. To do this one must possess a quality that is severely needed in our society today. To best illustrate what I believe to be the foundation of Sir Charles’ personal and business successes and growth, I decided to look to some of the most revered (and perhaps controversial) people in history for their insights on the topic of leadership. Sir Winston Churchill is credited with two simple quotes that best describe how a man can move from humble beginnings on a small island in the Caribbean to being known and respected for his achievements in industry, agriculture and

sport worldwide. “The first quality that is needed is audacity” followed by, “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.” The Oxford dictionary defines audacity as the “willingness to take bold risks.” I have met few people in my lifetime who are as willing as Sir Charles to take a risk and age has not dampened his approach at all, nor has it weathered his attitude. The man is relentless in his drive to be in the thick of things at nearly 88 years old. The second leader I looked to is a man whom we should all take the time to read about and try to emulate. Especially in today’s turbulent times. His Xhosa name means “troublemaker” and if anyone has read Sir Charles’ book they will know that in his youth he may have also been regarded in this light. Nelson Mandela said, “there are times when a leader must move out ahead of the flock, go off in a new direction, confident that he is leading his people the right way.” Those words seem simple; however, to most people, the hardest decision in life is to move away from the flock. Especially

Celebrates with Sir Charles Williams on his 88th birthday, and the remarkable attainment of 60 years in business for C.O. Williams Construction. Wishing you both continued success.

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in our small societies in the Caribbean. We are notoriously quick to judge anyone who dares to stick their neck out and challenge the status quo. Sir Charles has never been afraid to move in any direction. It has brought him resounding successes, but it has also led to some defining failures. It is here that the true strength of the man known as Cow to most is displayed. Never a man to shy away from the limelight, he has been

celebrated and he has faced many a detractor. I feel confident in saying that on both sides of the fence he is respected mostly for what I believe to be his strongest attribute. The Chinese philosopher and politician, Confucius provided me with the last piece of the puzzle that is Sir Charles Williams. He said, “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” This quote fits my father like a glove. He has never been afraid of failure or the rhetoric and stigma that comes with it. He has used failure time and time again to move to the next level of success. Too often in Caribbean society we let the fear of failure, or fear of being different stop us from spreading our wings. Now more than ever we need to take calculated risks to find alternatives for the social and economic growth of our society. Sir Charles, Cow, Dad, congrats on a long and prosperous career in many fields. You have broken down doors for many and helped to raise up all around you and you have done it YOUR WAY. The next generation will do it OUR WAY as we build on your foundation and continue to “Move the Earth to Please” for another 60 years and beyond. Always remember where you came from and those that crawled, walked and ran with you along the journey; you could not have done it without them. Good luck with what will be your toughest challenge to date! Happy Retirement.

Sunday, November 22, 2020

A Tribute to Sir Charles Williams by son Stephen Williams.

AM THE FIRST CHILD of Sir Charles and proud to say one of his favourite three children; my sister Charmaine and my younger brother Charles also known as “Teddy” are also “the favourite” in his eyes. As I also approach the tender age of retirement, I can reflect on the values my father instilled in us. Dad is and was always a perfectionist and I am not sure if he would say I made the grade, but I have great admiration for the lessons he taught me and my siblings. My memories with my dad are some of the deepest thoughts and have moulded me to the man I am. I am blessed to say that Dad has always played a major part of my life. Over the years Dad, Teddy and I played polo together and, funny enough, against each other and he always selected the best polo horses for me. Told you I am the favourite well, was, until Teddy came along. He was our biggest fan, always has been and always will and anyone who knows our dad would hear him screaming from the sidelines. Dad taught us never miss a chance to visit the world and try new experiences. He was a parent who taught us the life lesson to fish; guess cause it was a hobby, but from it I learned to transition from childhood to adulthood. My dad has always been the master, we

his students and he is standing strong at 88 years, so this will be forever. I have made it a priority to always have dinner with my dad at least once a week, with my wife Linda and sometimes my daughter Camilla, creating some of my greatest memories. Oliver my son is proud to be working with his grandfather.

Happy 88th Birthday Sir Charles Williams, we applaud your resounding contribution towards the construction industry over the last 60 years! “Happy to be securing the Company that moves the earth to please”

Sunday, November 22, 2020

Tribute To C.O. Williams by Sir Richard L. Cheltenham, KA., QC., Ph.D. I HAVE known Sir Charles, ‘Cow’ Williams, in various capacities over the last 40 years. Firstly, as a major milk producer and member of the Barbados Dairy Industries Limited Board when I was Minister of Agriculture. I knew him, too, as a major building contractor, not only of roads in Barbados and elsewhere in the Caribbean, but also as a builder of fishing harbours. In 1984, Barbados was about to build the fishing harbour at the Princess Alice Highway. The IADB was to finance and a shortlist was to be prepared by an officer of the US Embassy and I received word from my Permanent Secretary, Sam Headley, that C.O. Williams Construction Limited was not on the shortlist. As minister, I was annoyed and called the officer at the embassy and enquired of him ‘how is it that Cow could build harbours in Bahamas and Dominica and cannot make the shortlist in relation to the harbour to be built in his own country?’ He got back to me in a matter of days and advised me that C.O. Williams was on the shortlist for the building of the fishing harbour, which contract he later won, and did an excellent job. In the last 25 years or thereabout, I have acted as Counsel for Sir Charles in his personal capacity, and, at times, for his company as well. It was about that time we became friends; two country boys together. I could expect that if Cow had a personal or professional matter on his mind which he wanted to discuss with me, he would call me at 5 a.m. We would both be up and at work. What has come through over these years is Sir Charles’ pronounced sense of patriotism, his love of people regardless of class or colour, and his rigid determination

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to leave ‘his’ Barbados a more productive, stronger and more liveable country than the Barbados in which he was born and grew up. In every project he has undertaken locally, whether it be roads, housing developments or other construction, he has been motivated by a desire to do his best for Barbados, even in some cases incurring a loss as he completed the job. Many of our recent successful upscale housing developments which have attracted visitors and generated jobs, have been conceived and executed by him. He has been a great ambassador for our country. He has embodied and displayed to the regional and international community the best Barbadian qualities of high aim and fine work combined with a sense of realistic optimism. Cow is known by friend and foe, alike, as a man of strong loyalty to family and friends. And it is no coincidence that his love of polo, horse racing and sailing is surpassed only by his love of family and country. As he approaches his 88th birthday, and on the cusp of his retirement from his company through which he has made such an impactful contribution to our built environment, my wife, Colleen, Lady Cheltenham, and I are delighted to wish him a happy 88th birthday, and a long and active retirement.

Sunday, November 22, 2020

Tribute to Sir Charles by Sir Paul Altman. THERE are people who leave their mark on the landscape and others who alter the landscape. Sir Charles has conquered both. His competitive spirit, best exhibited at polo and horse racing, set new benchmarks. He took these sports to world standards, attracting the Royals as well as international players to Barbados. Cow has never failed to impress, and at the same time, never tried to impress. He could easily be described as the most grounded Barbadian. Starting from humble beginnings, and rising to anchor a Caribbean business conglomerate, Cow has touched more minds and contributed to more pockets, than possibly any Barbadian businessman. He proudly told me the story of HESS Oil and how Hess helped him pave his road to success (no pun intended) assisting him in acquiring his first plantation, Apes Hill. I am proud to say that, in my small

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夀䔀䄀刀匀 way, I assisted Cow with the sale of Apes Hill. As Cow’s journey continues, I wish him good health and many more successful stories to tell.

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Sunday, November 22, 2020

N 2016, Island Leather became a project Sir Charles decided to undertake and was the brain child of Nicole Greenidge, an employee of C.O.Williams Group of Companies. Having this link, she was able to obtain backing from Sir Charles Williams who pushed this new idea. It has since gained the backing of the University of the West Indies and was featured at BMEX 2018. The actual target market for the company is designers either local or in the garment industry where the brand of Island Leather can be seen as a leading competitive brand. The core business activity at this point is the exportation of the skin of the black belly sheep as a raw material and the importation of the said material as a finished product. Sir Charles realised that persons had not really thought about the use of the skins of the black belly sheep and the skins of the black belly sheep were salted and cured to produce a new leather, soft and supple that could be used for bags, sandals, shoes and even gloves. This new adventure just showed the character of this employer, Sir Charles believing in his employees and supporting them throughout the project both emotionally and financially. He was instrumental in conducting monthly meetings and constantly advocating to get who and what was needed to make this project a success. Nicole has some 25 years in the farming industry and has been at the helm of Canefield for some time now.

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Sunday, November 22, 2020

By CHARLES HEATH ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S A PRIVILEGE to wish Sir Charles a very happy 88th birthday, and wish him many more. I first met Sir Charles back in the days when polo was played at the Garrison Savannah, as I grew up with the late Tony Archer, who like Sir Charles, loved and played the game. When I take a look through memory lane, as he celebrates his 88th birthday, I see a self-made businessman, who has come from a very humble beginning, but one who had ambition and from early could see a dollar through a wall; and no matter how hard it would be to reach, he was going for it, even if it meant climbing over the tallest wall or digging under the wall to get it, and that is how Sir Charles became a legend in construction and built his empire, through hard work, as he was not like many, born with a silver spoon. I have personally seen some of the stumbling blocks he encountered while trying to make it, one in particular was like a boulder, and would have stopped

many a man, but not Sir Charles; he is not one for giving up, especially since it involved buying a tractor that he desperately needed, and knew it was extremely important in getting the business really launched. Over the years he has never been afraid to push himself to the limit, and his passion for doing business has never wavered. His list of achievements would take pages to put in print, as would the many things he has done for others. Sir Charlesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; love for sport continues with polo being close to his heart. It has seen him in the Guinness Book of Records, in the company of royalty, including the Queen. It has also taken him to other parts of the world. He also enjoys deep sea fishing, and his boats have won many competitions, local and overseas. Horse racing is another sport that he loves, and his horses have won many races, including Classic races. As a breeder, he has excelled, winning some 11 or 12 Champion Breeder Titles backto-back, including last year. May God bless you, Sir Charles, with many more good years.

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Sunday, November 22, 2020

Happy Birthday, Sir Charles Williams! Congratulations on 60 years of advancing the construction industry for the benefit of our communities.

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Sunday, November 22, 2020

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Sunday, November 22, 2020

Happy Birthday, Sir Charles Williams! Congratulations on 60 years of advancing the construction industry for the benefit of our communities.

Design with community in mind | www.stantec.com

Sunday, November 22, 2020

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Sunday, November 22, 2020

HILANTHROPIC giving has always been a hallmark of Sir Charles Williams. Over the years, he has rendered assistance to many a person, club, project and organisation. Thus, for the past 40 years the C.O. Williams Rangers Netball Club has proudly borne his company name as he provided support for a small community sports group which grew exponentially over the years due to his generous support. Former team member Juanita Cordle explained that in 1962, the Bristol-Rangers Netball Club was formed when a small group of young ladies came together to play the sport within their Eden Lodge neighbourhood. This small team soon attracted other members and like the football team within the community, they were in need of sponsorship. “One of the young ladies approached C.O. Williams for sponsorship and the company agreed to sponsor both the netball and football teams,” Cordle said. “This was in the late 1970s and even with his sponsorship we were able to retain our name, becoming the C.O. Williams Rangers Netball Club. We wore the company colours of blue and yellow.” One thing which Cordle admired was the level of interest which Sir Charles showed TROPHIES from winning sports teams in the team’s progress. She noted that he sponsored by C.O. Williams over the years. (SLD)

would always enquire about their games and follow their tournaments closely in the media. Therefore, the team was quite thrilled to emerge victorious on several occasions. “He was basked in glory because we won five back-to-back championships in the tournament hosted by the Barbados Netball Association. He used to adorn the office with our trophies,” she proudly said. “Outstanding players would be awarded with a token of appreciation, but as part of our reward for winning, he would treat us to lunch at the Yacht Club. There, we got to share the softer, fun-loving side of Sir Charles because during those lunches he would always share stories with us and enquire about our well-being.” Sir Charles would always encourage his staff members to go out and support the netball team by attending their games. Over the years, a few staff members became

Congrats & Best Wishes to Sir Charles Williams on his 88th Birthday, and 60 resilient years in the construction industry.

From the Management and Staff Of

members of the C.O. Williams Rangers Netball Club and eventually, members of the company were inspired to form their own team. This team helped to build and encourage staff morale and provided a form of leisurely exercise for its members. Cordle, who became the coach of the company team explained, “Seeing our success encouraged his workers to form a staff netball team called the C.O. Williams Construction Netball Team. This team played in out-of-season tournaments such as the Industrial Development Corporation games and the Barbados Workers Union tournament.” Over the years, many of the players would bring their children along to practice matches and tournaments and eventually, some of these girls would join the team when they were old enough. Cordle’s daughter is an example of one club member who joined by following in her mother’s footsteps. The former President of the Barbados Netball association, credited the sponsorship of Sir Charles for much of the growth, development and success which the team and its individual members reaped over the years. “Due to his sponsorship of the club, we were able to play in tournaments across the Caribbean. Our membership increased and we were able to field a team to represent the club in each division of the Barbados Netball Association’s tournaments. We also had quite a few club members who went on to represent Barbados in the sport.” Additionally, from within the club’s membership, Marrion Johnson-Hurley went on to become an international umpire and both Sandra Bruce-Small and former club president Harriet Waithe became coaches for the Barbados Netball Association. (KW)

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Sunday, November 22, 2020

A Tribute to Sir Charles Williams by 74-yearold Courtney Mayers, a retired employee.

WORKED in agriculture. I started in farming when I was about 17 or 18 years old. The farm was at Forster Hall, St Joseph. I looked after the animals; I used to milk the cows. Sir Charles used to help me with the cows too. He was very hands-on. Sir Charles used to do everything on the farm; he even used to help feed the cows. I remember if it was rainy when I came back to the farm in the afternoon he would tell me that he already fed all the animals, all I had to do was milk them. I spent 14 years working at Forster Hall where Sir Charles also lived. Then he bought a place in St Thomas called Cane Field and at that time he hired a gentleman named Joey Hassell to come and manage the Forster Hall farm because it had grown. Back then, the Government was importing cows all the time. The first cows that were imported to Barbados came from Puerto Rico and that was around 1965. Then, they started importing cows from Canada. A deal was made that whenever the cows come, some person would have the first pick so they could pick what they want, the best of the cattle. So, when it was Sir Charles’ time to pick the best, everybody else got vex and it was a grudge because he knew his stuff and he knew his animals well. He always wanted the best. I remember one time Sir Charles told me that he wanted to have the best dairy in Barbados; and I asked myself, “Wait, this man going senile or something?” I knew there were so many bigger, more established farms in

Barbados. For example, there was Bulkeley Dairy in St George, Central Livestock Station, Greenland Dairy Farm and Hope Dairy Farm. So, with all these big establishments already, I wanted to know how he was going to have the biggest and best dairy in Barbados. But Sir Charles always wanted the best, and around 1978 or 1979, he bought another farm at Water Hall St James. He told me, “Courtney I want you to come and go down there and start this farm for me.” Mr Hassell told me that I didn’t have to go, he was willing to find someone else for him, but I told Mr Hassell, “I going”. I left the big dairy at Forster Hall and went down to Water Hall sometime in October 1979. We started that farm from small; myself, Sir Charles and his son Stephen worked hand in hand. Then, in about eight years, we had the best dairy in Barbados. People would come from all over to visit the farm. The taxi men would bring the tourists there. When other farmers wanted to know about farms or when overseas farmers came to Barbados, they would come and visit the farm. Everybody was always very impressed with the cleanliness of the place, the quality of the herd and the condition of the herd. They actually used to want to know how we got cows in the Western hemisphere looking like these and would always say that you do not see cows in the Western hemisphere looking like these. Whenever farmers came and had youngsters with them they would ask me, “Courtney, where you went to train?” But I would tell them, “I trained on the job. I taught myself by listening and reading.” There was a vet named

Dr Proverbs who taught me a lot of things. The guys from overseas would comment, “You’re doing this work and you never went to a college or a university?” I would say ‘no’ and they would say they cannot believe it because where they came from, they had to study and be trained to do the same type of work. I spent 26 years at Water Hall but after a while, Sir Charles was not satisfied with Water Hall so he bought another farm in St John called Kendell plantation. He decided to make this one an ultra-modern farm. When it was completed around 2004 or 2005 I went on to spend another six or seven more years at Kendell. While at Water Hall, my son Patrick Butcher was working for me at the farm, but then he moved with me to Kendell plantation about seven months after I started there. For the past 29 or 30 years my son was working for the company but even before he started as an employee, while he was going to school, he spent a lot of time around the farm. When I retired in 2012, my son took over from me. My daughter Krystal-Ann Butcher is also with the company. She came when she was 16 or 17 years old. She is the accountant at C.O. Williams Construction and has been working here for about 17 years. Over the years, what I can say about Sir Charles is that he is a very hard working man. He worked from morning to night 24/7. When everybody else went home, he would still be working all over the place, driving all over the farms and through the quarries. He is still working all like now.

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Sunday, November 22, 2020

Today we honour our parents…

Congratulations to C.O. Williams Construction Limited on their 60th Anniversary. Charles Othneale Williams had the foresight 60

will find that we are mixed up in many outstanding

years ago when he pressed ahead with li�le

projects (large and small) across the face of

resources and formed the C.O. Williams

Barbados.

Construc�on company which over the years has certainly moved the earth to please. The dynamic Chairman also had the foresight to form the Ready Mix and Ready Block companies to further compliment and sa�sfy the needs of the construc�on industry in Barbados. As a result you

We are like our parents…we’ll go to every length and height to sa�sfy you. Our products have always met interna�onal standards and our service is impeccable. That’s why we have always been your first choice!

Lears, St. Michael. Tel: 436-3952

www.readymixbarbados.com

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Sunday, November 22, 2020

By KATRINA WELCH

“

HE WAS one of the best bosses in the world!” These are the words of retiree Wendell Butcher who worked under the leadership of Sir Charles Williams for more than 50 years. At age 13, Butcher began his work with Sir Charles in the area of agriculture. At that time, he began working in the field with the women who were responsible for planting food. In his five decades with the organisation Butcher has seen significant growth and expansion in the company’s operations. He recalled that in the very early days of the construction company they did not own the heavy equipment and machinery which the company now uses. He said, “The boss bought two pecks and some shovels and we started widening the road at Kent because there was no fancy equipment at the time.” In 1967, as the company’s operation had grown significantly, Butcher was afforded the opportunity to be a part of the Barbados delegation from C.O. Williams construction to work on a project for Hess Oil St Lucia. He proudly stated that he was one of the first employees selected to go to work on the project. The 77-year-old also explained that as a leader, Sir Charles was quite fair and had the tendency to quickly forgive and rehire persons he dismissed. “He is one of the fairest bosses, very fair. If he get vex and send home a man, he would send back for the man the same day. If the man was home for two days, he would say go and bring him back,” the long-serving employee said with a chuckle. Another characteristic of his former employer which he spoke of was the generosity of Sir Charles. He stressed that the businessman cared about his employees and was interested in seeing them progress in life. He explained, “The boss would lend us money to use for good purposes. When he changed the supervisors’ cars he would let us buy them from him and we would not have to pay any interest.” Butcher revealed that from as young as age 20 he was a beneficiary of the kindness and generosity of Sir Charles. He shared a personal story saying, “I was a wicked fellow and when I was 20, me and my mother had a noise. The boss heard about it and he heard I was a good worker. So, he bought a house from a lady for me. It cost $460. Back then it was a big house with three bedrooms.” Even though Butcher retired from the company 12 years ago, his legacy continues as his son Kenrick Cooke is employed with the company and is presently the number one paver driver. His brother Anthony Skeete, commonly known to many as “Tug Tug”, is also a driver with the company. He operates the Caterpillar machinery.

By KEITH MILLER

ORKING with Sir Charles ‘Cow’ Williams to produce his autobiography has undoubtedly been the highlight of my career as a writer and publisher. It has also simultaneously been the most complex, demanding and satisfying book I’ve ever worked on. For many reasons, which readers of the book will readily discover for themselves, the story of Charles Othniel Williams is truly unique. And, given that he was born in 1932, growing up during an era when life in Barbados was radically different to today, it is fair to say that a story like his will never be repeated. Knowing all of that left me in no doubt whatsoever about the burden of responsibility I was taking on when I committed myself to the job at hand. The fact is, there was only ever going to be one chance to record Sir Charles’ remarkable story. So I knew from the outset that I had to fully commit myself to working above and beyond any normal requirements in order to achieve the highest possible

standard. In the end, with Sir Charles and I regularly getting together for three hours on a Wednesday, it took just under four years to capture the whole story in note form, do extra research, sift through the vast amount of information, turn a hundred hours of voice recordings into readable words, reassemble everything into a logical order, then design and print the hard copy book. I could never deny that it was an arduous challenge to undertake, but it has also been an incredibly rewarding experience and a privilege to work so closely with Sir Charles. There is an introduction in the front of the book that says, ‘In recording the story of Cow Williams, whose life is so rich in texture and so heavily laden with incident, it is impossible to include every event or every person that crossed his path, and impractical to follow any rigid timeline. The best we can aim to achieve is to capture the essence of the man.’ So, now that the book has been released, my number one hope is that ‘COW – My Story’ has successfully captured the essence of Sir Charles Othniel ‘Cow’ Williams.

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Sunday, November 22, 2020

HILIP ATWELL is one of the longest serving members on the board of directors of the C.O. Williams Construction company; but beyond his professional affiliation with Sir Charles, he is also a long-time friend of the successful businessman. Atwell recalls that one of his brothers worked with Sir Charles in the late 1960s on the estate at Forster Hall but it was when their father passed away that he forged a closer bond to Sir Charles. “The first time I went on a job site with him, I was on my way to Bridgetown with my mother. When he saw us he asked if I wanted to go on a job with him. It was the area in Eagle Hall where they were clearing for PlanTrac. After that it was history,” he said. Subsequently, the 16-year-old student of Presentation College started working for Sir Charles during his holiday breaks from school. In July 1971, he joined the company permanently in a supervisory role because he had gained much

knowledge about the job over the holiday periods in which he worked. “The first job I went to was a road job at the back of the airport; building the road at Paragon. I worked basically as a labourer with the gang. I ended up steering the curb machine that puts down the curb,” he explained. “I started working with the gangs that were in charge of the road jobs, and learning from then until eventually I picked out my own crew of six fellows from different gangs that were working. I did this because Sir Charles pushed me into building my own roads and curbs.” Atwell describes Sir Charles as being helpful and according to him, he would always ensure that his workers were supplied with whatever was necessary to get the job done. When the local construction industry slowed down, Atwell travelled to St Lucia and worked there on the Hess project for almost five years. When he returned in 1981, he worked in the farms as well as at Cane Field and Highland.

It was only in 1999 when the Sandy Lane golf course was being built that he returned to the construction leg of the company for a period of time. “Today things are quiet again, so I returned to working in the farm when things slowed down, but I still help in construction where necessary. My son Mark is the contracts manager and when he needs help he brings me back in to assist,” he said. His involvement in the sport of polo is another thing for which he credits Sir Charles. Even though he was born on an estate with horses and could ride from a young age, he did not begin to play until he was encouraged by Sir Charles to do so. He said “In working with him he encouraged me to come and start playing polo. It was a good fit since I knew how to ride from young. With the polo scene I was connected to Sir Charles socially and learning from him. I got to see what he did and how he did it. He was always helpful to me and protective of me.” (KW)

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Sunday, November 22, 2020

By KATRINA WELCH

ITH 48 years of service to the C.O. Williams Construction company under his belt, it is no surprise that Randolph Goodman sang the praises of the firm and its founder Sir Charles Williams. “It was a pleasure working with the firm for all that time,” he said. “I got along well with the managers and supervisors. All that I earned in life, I earned from working at C.O. Williams. I built my own house and everything.” In 1965, when Goodman joined the company, his colleague Wendell Butcher provided him with tractor operation training. Though he started with small machinery, by the time he retired in in 2013, he had risen to the top as the senior number one tractor operator and was tasked with driving the company’s largest machinery, the D9 tractor. Reflecting on his nearly five decades with the company, Goodman recounted

his short-lived assignment on an overseas project. “The boss sent me away just after I got married. I got married the Saturday and left the Monday for St Lucia to work on the Hess Oil St Lucia project. A week later, I returned to Barbados,” he said with a laugh. Years later, the company received the contract to build an international runway in The Bahamas. This time, when Goodman travelled to work on the project, he remained for its full duration. When he returned to Barbados, he received another regional assignment which required him to travel to Dominica and teach others how to operate tractors. Like many of the company’s employees, Goodman was able to pass on his craft and legacy to his offspring. Upon his retirement his son Rommell Goodman assumed the role of senior number one operator of the D9 tractor. Beaming with pride as he spoke of his son’s achievement within the company, Goodman further added, “It is a good family firm to work with.”

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20E

Sunday, November 22, 2020

VERY vibrant 75-year-old Desmond Maynard was more than happy to share a number of reflections in honour of his long-time friend, Sir Charles Williams. According to Maynard, the two had their first encounter in 1961 when Maynard was just 16 years old. At the time, they were attending the annual Gymkhana exhibition in Queen’s Park. Some four years later, at the annual exhibition, Maynard was showing a horse for a friend, and even though the horse was troublesome, he managed to win the prize for the handiest horse on show. After the show, while lounging in the pavilion he recalls that some men were expressing their surprise at his horse’s victory. “The men were surprise how this horse could win the handiest class, and Sir Charles in his usual ‘quiet’ voice shouted across the pavilion, “The blasted horse only wanted a proper rider!’,” he said with much laughter. A decade later, in 1975, the former polo player had his first introduction to working with Sir Charles. This came through a mutually beneficial agreement between the two gentlemen. Sir Charles’ stables were growing; at the time he had approximately 50 horses and needed someone to help him manage the stables. Maynard happily assumed the role because in return, Sir Charles offered to mount him with horses; this simply meant that Sir Charles would provide him with the polo ponies he needed to ride for his polo matches. Having studied engineering in England, this was the field in which Maynard worked. Therefore, his work at the stables was merely a hobby. However, he began working full-time for Sir Charles in 1980. “I found myself working in the oil fields of the Barbados National Oil Company which appealed to me, because of the mechanical and engineering aspect of it,” he said. “It was a 24-hour job; you could be called anytime and I and worked with the company for 31 years.” Speaking to the strong bond which he, Sir Charles and a few other close friends had forged over the years he said, “Everybody worked together and played together. So, it was definitely not an 8 to 4 job. We lived in each other’s back pockets. We played polo together, drank together, went to the beach together; all of us were having our children at that time and Cow, not wanting to be left out had one too – Teddy.” The now retired engineer reflected on his time working with Sir Charles and noted that, “In his work and his sport he wants 110 per cent. He liked to have his people around him and would often be heard saying ‘I always used to have people around me who I knew their father’. Work was not a problem, because you enjoyed the company. He was an excellent man to work with, he always had our backs.” (KW)

21E

Sunday, November 22, 2020

By KATRINA WELCH

IGHTY-THREE cents per day was the daily wage for which Melvin Mayers worked when he first took up employment at the Forster Hall plantation in 1956. At the time, the then 14-year-old was employed by Elliot Williams, father of Sir Charles Williams and his duties involved heading cane, weeding grass and picking pond grass. One year later, the senior Williams purchased New Castle and went to work there. In his place, a 24-year-old Sir Charles left his bookkeeping role at Hothersal Plantation in St John to oversee the operations of the Forster Hall plantation. The now 78-year-old, who retired from the company in 2013, recalled that even before he joined the company, he knew Sir Charles from seeing him around the neighbourhood. He said, “I knew him from small but he is ten years older than me. We grew up in the same area because he lived in Forster Hall and I lived in Bathsheba. Our family used to live right below the grounds where the Forster Hall plantation was, so the walk from my house to Sir Charles’ house was about five minutes.” As the first child of his mother, he had responsibility for the care of his younger siblings while his mother worked. He credits his phenomenal cooking skills and passion for the art to the days when he was required to cook for his family, from as early as age nine. Mayers fondly remembers his many diving expeditions on the East Coast of the island in search of sea eggs for

Sir Charles. At that time, the restrictions which are now in place did not exist, and he was able to successfully harvest the delicacy. “He had boats at Bathsheba,” he said. “He used to tell me when he wanted sea eggs and I would get them for him.” With more than 50 years in the Williams’ employ, Mayers also remembers the start of the construction company. “When the construction firm first started, there were only about 10 or 15 people. When Mr Williams was at the plantation, his father-in-law, Mr Walcott, used to do the work outside. We used to work in the crops cutting canes with a small Massey-Harris tractor that would pull cane. In the hard times, we would put a bucket up front on the tractor to dig up marl and when the canes were done we would dump off the marl,” he explained. “I work real, real hard,” he went on to say. “I used to work with a gentleman called Mr Belle who had retired from Government and started working with Sir Charles. He taught me everything. On July 24, 1967, Sir Charles made me a road foreman.” After assuming this role, Mayers completed a number of construction projects both locally and regionally. These projects included many of the roundabouts in Barbados as well as a road strip in St Kitts and two airstrips in Bequia and Mustique. It is not surprising that this company, which places a high value on family, has also become the employer of two of Mayers’ sons. Prior to his retirement, they both began working with him on the road. Now, his son Herman Mayers

drives the reclaimer while the other, Desmond Edghill drives the service trucks. Like many of his former colleagues, Mayers was a beneficiary of the kindness and generosity for which Sir Charles is well known. “He was very nice to

me in every way. Sir Charles played cricket for The Lodge School but he was done with that and in 1969 I was playing club cricket for Bathsheba. So, Mr Williams gave me his cricket clothes to use, his boots and pants,” he said with gratitude.

22E

“

HE has been a real inspiration to me.” These are the words of Michael Gooding, a long-time friend of Sir Charles Williams. In fact, he remembers that the two first became friends when Gooding was just 15 years old in the mid1950s. In 1970, Sir Charles offered him a job which he accepted, but at that time he only stayed with the company for six months as another job offer came up which he readily accepted. “I used to visit him and his family regularly and that’s how I got to work with him. His daughter Charmaine is my first godchild. We were close friends so when he needed someone to work with him, I accepted and we worked closely with each other. It was a small company at that time and it was only he and I in supervisory roles,” Gooding said. Even though their time working together was short, the work ethic of Sir Charles

Sunday, November 22, 2020

was unmatched by anyone Gooding had ever met; and it was the dedication of Sir Charles and his hands-on nature from which he drew inspiration. He said “You could never work more

than he did. If you got to work early he was already there and if you left late, he was still there. He led by example. He worked harder than anyone else in the company. Up to today he’s 88 and still comes into the office regularly.” Sir Charles has always been a firm believer in seeing the development and progress in the lives of his employees. This was evident in his relationship with Gooding who received advice from Sir Charles that he cherishes to this day. “In my former work in the sugar industry, housing was provided, so when I went to work with him in 1970 I remember within the first month he took me to a spot of land and said you should buy that land and build a house there. He gave me the advice that I

should never rent a house; so I took his advice and built one. During his brief initial stint with the company, Sir Charles appointed Gooding as one of the company’s directors and while he held the post for some time after his departure, eventually he gave it up. However, some 20 years later, Gooding returned to the company. “I re-joined C.O. Williams and became a director again. I did administrative work with emphasis on the workshop and equipment. For the 20 years I worked with the company, Sir Charles was working mostly in St Lucia so I wasn’t working as closely with him as I did on the first occasion. But he hadn’t changed any, he was still as inspiring as ever and he always led by example,” he said with admiration. Gooding conceded that there were many family connections within the C.O. Williams team. “When I first worked in 1970, our office was in the Forster Hall plantation yard, and a lot of the workers came from neighbouring communities. Ninety-five per cent of the people that worked there came from that area and as the company grew, their children also came to work for him.” Thus, it is not surprising that even within Gooding’s family, there is a family connection to another arm of the Williams team. He revealed that for the past 20 years his son Nicholas Gooding has worked with the company, Williams Drilling, and is currently a supervisor. This company is a joint venture between C.O. Williams Construction and Williams Industries. The 81-year-old continued to speak fondly saying, “There are few people that would have inspired people the way Sir Charles inspired me. When you work with someone like him, your work ethic changes completely. He has been very kind to me throughout and I would like to wish him God’s blessing for a long life.” (KW)

EVERLEY BRATHWAITE, joined the C.O. Williams Construction team, 40 years ago as the office clerk responsible for payables, cash sales and wages. It was then that she first met Sir Charles Williams. She recalls that even though they were based at the Victoria Quarry in St John at the time, and Sir Charles travelled between the islands two or three times a week, they would also be fully and almost immediately aware of his return to Barbados. “As soon as he got back you would know; you would hear the radio going. He would be checking on every site because he had his pulse on everything. When he came to the quarry he would come into the office and meet everyone,” she said. Four decades later the 65-year-old is still with the company and is now the office manager. This role requires her to work with their customers, primarily from an accounting perspective, and to manage the office and the staff therein. Reflecting on her time at the company, and her interactions with Sir Charles she noted, “I found that he has always been very respectful of me. I always remember the first time he

shook my hand. He shook it firmly and he said, ‘hmmm, you have a good handshake’. I laughed because I had no idea what he meant by that.” The mother of two was also grateful that her children were embraced by the company when they were growing up. The opportunity provided contributed to their professional development and offered them a chance to prepare for the world of work. “My daughters had a bit of training by working in the office during the summer holidays. One of them would often say how glad she is that she worked in my office back then,” she explained. She further added, “Over the years I observed him to be very ambitious, driven and focused. He is really committed and an inspiration to all. He’s done a good job, God has been good to him. He had a full life and as he goes on to retirement, I can only wish the best to him and all God’s blessings.” (KW)

Sunday, November 22, 2020

23E

24E

Sunday, November 22, 2020