‘Knowledge’ is no more

For the second week in succession, this column has been forced to pay tribute to a dearly departed Vincentian, who has made a mark on the sporting landscape here and elsewhere in some form.

This time it is E Glenford Prescott, who died last Tuesday at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, at the age of 59.

Incidentally, it is again another Sion Hillarian who has left us for his eternal rest, but gratifying that he too has made a contribution to the Sion Hill community, St Vincent and the Grenadines and by extension – the Caribbean.

Most people would come to “Pressie”, as he was commonly known in the sphere of sports.

Somewhat of an all-rounder, Pressie dabbled in football, athletics and cricket, but he considered himself more adept at table tennis.  

A very knowledgeable person on many sporting disciplines, Pressie, in his growing up days, gained the moniker “Most Knowledge”, which later was shortened to simply “Knowledge”.

It was no surprise that he made sports journalism his main forte, having worked as a sports editor with the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) for a number of years, before moving on to Hot FM.

Pressie had given service to other media outlets, namely print, having worked local newspapers and most recently with an online news outlet.

Additionally, Pressie served as a local talk show host, as well as a correspondent for regional and international news agencies.

Away from his vocation, Pressie made inputs with the Sion Hill community, namely, in the formative years of the Sion Hill Euphonium Steel Orchestra and was part of the early executive, serving as treasurer.

And, although physically not residing in Sion Hill for the past two decades or so, Pressie never lost touch with his community, contributing in whatever ways possible.

Pressie’s last tangible contribution to sports in Sion Hill was a financial donation made to the Sion Hill Netball Tournament, which ended in December.

Then, he gave a cash award to the most disciplined young netballer from the Sion Hill community.  

Nationally, Pressie rendered his expertise to the Carnival Development Corporation as a judge at its various mas competitions, during the hosting of Vincy Mas.

But he accomplished himself as a good debater when he chose to, always backing his stance with factual information, as his photographic memory afforded him such an attribute.

Pressie was one of the Sion Hillarians who defended what he believed in and kept this intact until his departure from this earthly life last Tuesday.

Although his main area of debate was sports, Pressie was also a strong proponent for his chosen political side and its ideologies.

Thus, he would at times cut a controversial figure, as Pressie would not back down or back off from an argument; hence his pronouncements and writings would have stirred some emotions and discontent among those whom he offended.

However, Pressie was not daunted by the sometimes injurious spill-offs from his verbal spats, as his resolute nature meant that he would have maintained his convictions.

 Pressie would have tempered in recent times, which coincided with his renewed of faith in God.

Hence, he chose to not only talk the talk, but to also walk, as he fully embraced the teachings of the Almighty.

This was borne out at the hosting of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Cricket Association Inc’s annual general meeting at the President’s Suite of the Arnos Vale Playing Field, when he used the open forum to make peace with someone with whom he had wrath, via an online article.

Pressie, on that day, December 30, 2017, confessed to using the article of April 2015, to hurt Ian Allen, then coach of the Windward Islands senior cricket team.

He, in the presence of others, sought forgiveness from Allen, who is also a practising sports journalist, an olive branch which Allen unreservedly accepted.

This was among Pressie’s last public appearances at a sports function, as his failing health dictated otherwise.

But his confessions to Allen, left a mark on those who witnessed the episode, as Pressie would have left this life with one less baggage.

So, as we all celebrate the life of the late E Glenford Prescott, let us make the best of what contributions he has made to Sion Hill especially and to St Vincent and the Grenadines, in general.

Rest in peace, our villager, community activist, family man, media companion et al.