Frankie Auton George – My Forever Friend

by Raymond England

Sometimes in life you meet someone who knows you better than you know yourself. Sometimes in life you meet someone who believes in you more than you believe in yourself.

If you are lucky to find that someone make that person your Forever Friend and Enjoy the Blessings Frankie Auton George Was – Is and Will Always Be my Forever Friend.

We have known each other for over 70 years. We went to the same schools: the Kingstown Methodist and the Boys Grammar School (BGS).

From left: Kentish Cunningham, Frankie George, Basil “Bung” Cato and Raymond England in the mid-1960s

When we graduated we returned to teach at our Alma Mater, The BGS. We were fortunate to teach some very remarkable students. They were polite, disciplined, hard working and smart. It was certainly a joy to teach. He, of course, was Mr Dapper Dan: tie, pants and socks all matching perfectly – always.

Growing up on the island in the 50s and 60s we had the best time of our lives. We swam in the ocean (well- some of us). We played cricket on the beach and football in the park. We also played cricket in the streets of Walkerpiece. Walkerpiece was our home and our playground.

We later joined a fraternity of young men who are generally referred to as the Bridge Boys. The Bridge Boys were an Academy, a Family, a Home away from Home. We learned a lot from the Elders in the group: guys like Roy Austin, The late E G King, Winty Roberts, Kerwyn Morris, Bernard Hewitt et al. It was indeed a fun and educational experience.

Frankie was an avid reader, He encouraged me to devour books by VS Naipaul, Orlando Patterson, James Baldwin and many others.

Some of the best books I have read were recommended by him. Some of my most memorable musical experiences were had with his guidance and good taste.

We later migrated to Canada – He to Memorial University in Newfoundland and I to Mc Master in Hamilton. Edna, the love of his life was living in Toronto.

So of course he spent his summers in Toronto. We were having so much fun we decided to get married soon after and we lived together in a two bedroom Apt in Toronto at 101 Cosburn Ave. We spent one year together and had tons of fun. We were an awesome foursome.

After graduating with a Masters Degree in Economics from York University he went home to teach at the old Grammar School. According to reports from his students, it was here, I was told, he did His best work.. He had a thorough knowledge of the subject matter – Economics and transmitted this knowledge with enthusiasm and clarity as lucid as daylight. He not only taught students the subject, but he inspired them to develop critical thinking skills and a perpetual sense of curiosity.

His teaching and influence reached far beyond the confines of the classroom. He taught them the importance of discipline and perseverance, he encouraged them to view failure not as an end in itself but instead as a stepping stone to success if they learnt the lesson it taught. He had a passion for teaching because he enjoyed learning. He never stopped learning. He never stopped encouraging others to learn.

I see these qualities in his life’s work. I see them in his family life and friendship. I see them in his students: Ian Hypolite, St Clair Leacock, Ms Andrews and others. They tell me Frankie was perhaps the first master to break down the barriers that existed between Teacher and Student. He was affable approachable and friendly. It was very unusual for a teacher to join the students on a moonlight hike and still command the utmost respect the next day in the class room. But that was the measure of the man, my friend.

Frankie had a burning desire to help those who were less fortunate than him. One hot day in July we were having a few drinks in an air conditioned uptown bar. After a while Frankie got up and announced he is going down to Bottom Town to “give Lucy a play”. Lucy owned a small shop on the side of the road. We walked all the way down Bay Street to sit on Lucy’s bench and have a few drinks from her bar. This was the measure of the man, my friend.

The last time I saw him I was in Brooklyn and called to find out when was a good time to visit? He paused. Then slowly and deliberately answered – allowing each word to fall painfully on my unprotected head; “You – call to find out what is a good time to come and visit me? HOW LONG HAVE WE KNOWN EACH OTHER?” I quickly said, “I WILL SEE YOU IN 20 mins”. In 15 mins I was at the door. He was weak and frail but in good spirits and we chatted and reminisced about old times, Good Times. We laughed, we heckled each other and we uttered the word GRATITUDE over and over. Grateful for family, Old friends, for the good times we had and gratitude for being HERE. That day I left with a feeling of sadness and gladness, that feeling will remain with me forever.

Nothing can adequately explain our loss. We will grieve but not live in grief. We will cry but not let our tears drown us. We will. We MUST find some gift in saying goodbye.

Today I come here from the green hills of Walker Piece to say goodbye to my friend. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY I come to ACKNOWLEDGE and CELEBRATE the GIFT GOD has given us: A Gift of Humility, Honesty, Wisdom,, a sense of Humour, generosity of spirit, an endearing sense of Family and a calming PEACEFULNESS – FRANKIE AUTON GEORGE- Easy Like Sunday Morning.

I will end with a few snippets from a poem by the Maya Angelou: WHEN GREAT SOULS DIE

When Great souls die after a while Peace begins to bloom / Our minds formed and informed by them / Slowly and irregularly begin to return / And they whisper to us: They Existed / They Existed / We can BE. Be and Be Better / Because He Existed / I am a better person – Because He Was Here / R I P MY BROTHER-MY FOREVER FRIEND