Howard Fergus

Sir Howard Archibald Fergus KBE, PhD (born 22 July 1937) is a Montserratian author and historian. He was born at Long Ground in Montserrat. He attended Bethel Primary School, Montserrat Secondary School, Erdiston Teachers College in Barbados, the University College of West Indies (London), the Universities of Bristol and Manchester, and finally UWI (PhD, 1978). He retired from the University in 2004 as Professor of Eastern Caribbean Studies.

Fergus has written and edited over 14 books including several works on Montserratian history and society. His scholarly works have been published in a number of international journals and he is also an established poet.

Fergus was winner of The Caribbean Writer Poetry Prize in 1992 and of the David Hough Literary Prize for an author residing in the Caribbean in 2002.

Life

Fergus served as the Speaker of the Legislative Council of Montserrat from 1975 to 2001, one of the longest terms for a presiding officer in the Commonwealth of Nations. He has subsequently returned to the post as acting speaker on several occasions, as well as periodically serving as deputy Governor of Montserrat and acting governor when the role is vacant. He has served on several committees related to constitutional and electoral matters.^[1]

Fergus's most important work is the book Montserrat: History of a Caribbean Colony published in 1994 by The Macmillan Press, London, ISBN 0-333-61217-5. This historical account is supported by copious references to primary sources, and contains chapters on settlement, sugar, slavery, emancipation, cotton, limes and The Montserrat Company, politics, education, and arts and culture.

Teresina Bodkin was identified as a prospective speaker in 2009. She supported in getting ready for this role by six months of training by Fergus. During that time Fergus returned to his former role replacing the previous speaker, Joseph Meade. On 6 April 2010, Bodkin was selected as the first female Speaker of the island's Legislative Council.^[2] Bodkin served until September 2014.^[3]

He wrote the words for the national song of Montserrat, "Motherland", with the music composed and arranged by Dr George Irish.^[4]

Honours

Fergus was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1979 for services to education and the community in Montserrat, and was upgraded to Commander of the Order (CBE) in 1995. In 2001, he was knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order (KBE).^[5] Fergus received the Order of Excellence from the Government of Montserrat in 2014.

Published Books

Fergus is Montserrat’s historian and has written extensively about the island. His published work includes History Of Alliougana: A Short History of Montserrat (1975), Montserrat the Last English Colony? Prospects for Independence (1978); William H. Bramble: His Life and Times (1983); Hugo Versus Montserrat (with E.A. Markham (1989)) and Montserrat: History of a Caribbean Colony (1994).

His poetry began appearing from 1976, with Cotton Rhymes; Green Innocence (1978), Stop the Carnival (1980), and his poems have been anthologised in the Penguin Book of Caribbean Verse and appeared in Artrage, Writing Ulster, Bim, The New Voices, Caribbean Quarterly, Ambit, Caribanthology and others. In 1998, Peepal Tree published Lara Rains & Colonial Rights. Below are just a few most recent...

2004 - "Beneath The Bananas: Poems of Montserrat Celebrating the Centenary of The Birth of R.W. Griffith 1904 - 2004". The book includes poems in the names of individual authors; reveals " a new level of maturity and creative skill; and the book benefits greatly from the presence of Archie Markham, Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and Professor of Creative Writing at Sheffield Hallam University". The book was published with financial assisstance from The Department of Education and Culture, Montserrat Moments Inn. and R.W. Griffith Investments Ltd. Design and layout by KiMAGIC. ISBN: 976-8018-09-07

2007 - "St. Patrick's Co-Operative Credit Union Fifty Years of Golden Service 1957 - 2007". "A must read story of a Co-Operative Credit Union which was launched in 1957. It transformed the lives of peopleat the grasroots, helped them to cope with violent storms of wind and fire and is still fuelling national development in the twenty-first century". Includes the works of several photographers including Kingsley Howe and Igor Kravtchenko. First published in 2007 by the University of West Indies, School of Continuing Studies, Montserrat. ISBN: 978-9768018-11-3.

2007 - "Montserrat: Defining Moments" ... "offers valuable information and insightson the events and persons taht have given direction and character to a unique people called Montserratians. It is another source of material on a small country that had braved many challenges but refuses to be cowed into defeat" - Dr. Hon Lowell L. Lewis. The book includes many colourful images of Montserrat and its people; designed by Igor Kravtchenko and published by KiMAGIC in 2007. ISBN-13:978-0-973-6950-7-6, ISBN-10: 0-9736950-7-2.

2008 - "Death In The Family E.A. Markham 1939-2008". Book written in memory of Edward Archibald Markham , Professor of Creative Writing, Sheffield Hallam University. Published by Fergus Publications Ltd. with assisstance from The Montserrat Foundation Inc and The Ministry of Culture of Montserrat in 2008 and University of West Indies School of Continuing Studies Montserrat, and Igor Kravtchenko for special assisstance. The book was designed by KiMAGIC; first published in 2008. ISBN: 978-976-95223-0-5.

2010 - "The Arrow Poems and Saturday Soup". The book is a collection of poems designated for Alphonsus "Arrow" Cassell 1949-2010. First published in 2010 by Fergus Publications; book design by Igor Kravtchenko and special assisstance from Fiona Meade and members of Lime Tree Lane for ideas fro poems. ISBN: 978-976-95223-1-2.

2011 - "Poems From Behind God Back". "Profound and penetrating", these pems come from a wealth of experience and a depth of feeleing, in "conversational muscular rhythms". Book of poems dedicated to Fernella Barzey (1947-2010). The book was designed by KiMAGIC; first published by Fergus Publications Ltd. in 2011. ISBN: 978-976-95223-2-9.

2011 - "Tongues On Fire: A History of The Pentecostal Movement of Montserrat"; ... "highlights the struggles and conquests of the persons who pioneered the Pntecostal Movement in Montserrat, thereby making the island the cradle of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the West Indies". Published by Fergus Publications, for the Montserrat District of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the West Indies in 2011; book desin and prepress by KiMAGIC. ISBN: 978-976-95223-3-6.

2014 - "A Cloud of Witnessess: Some Pentecostal Pastors of Montserrat". "The book dedicated to Bishop Abrahamand Frances Riley For Faithful Service They carried the Pentecostal Torch with honour". The book was published by Fergus Publications Ltd. Olveson, Montserrat with Financial Contribution from: Reuel Francis (Boston and Montserrat), Faith Tabernacle Pentecostal Church, Abudant Life Fellowship of Edgewater Park (New Jersey, US), Shipoh Pentecostal Church (Salem, Montserrrat), Victoria Road Evangelical Church (Birmingham, UK), Church of Good Prophecy (Montserrat), Faith Christian Church (Massachusetts, US), Shiloh Rivival Tabernacle and Shilon Tottenham Assembly (London, UK). The book was designed by KiMAGIC; first published in 2014. ISBN: 978-976-95223-5-0.

References