Passing

One of the very first interviews I did for Newsday back in 1998 was with Ellaleen Bristol, in rural Tobago. One of the many unsung community workers who carry out the duties as Registrars of Births and Deaths in Trinidad and Tobago. Ellaleen, who passed away in August last year, serviced Rockley Vale and its environs.

Her husband, John, who served competently as Ellaleen’s deputy for 14 years until he retired at age 91, recently passed away exactly seven months to the day after his wife of 56 years.

Often referred to as “The Englishman” because of his eloquent manner of speaking (he loved to speak in Latin as well), John or “Baba” as he was called, grew up in Tobago, graduated from Bishop’s High School, before moving to Trinidad where he taught at L’Anse Noire Moravian Primary School in Toco.

Deciding that this was not his true calling, he joined the Police Service in 1939 and worked at various stations nationwide, rising to the rank of corporal. In 1947, John was transferred to Tobago, met, fell in love with, and married Ellaleen Mc Millan in October 1949.

The couple had four children —Trixie, John jnr, Alexander and Maria, 21 grandchildren and four great grandchildren. John’s oldest son Calvert was from a previous relationship.

The Bristols returned to Trinidad and in 1968 on his retirement John received the Police Long Service Award. He was a well respected member of the police force who was always considered fair, honest and hardworking.

From 1949 to 1961 John received Road Safety Awards from the Road Safety Association.

Not a person to sit idly by, having retired, John first managed a new and used cars and parts enterprise in Port-of-Spain before returning to Tobago where he became a Weights and Measures and Price Control Inspector for ten years.

It would seem that after his long marriage to Ellaleen, the separation through her death was heart-breaking for John as he suddenly became hypertensive.

However, he remained active to the end of his 93 years of life, doing everything for himself, and regularly attending Harvest and Fisherman Festivals, concerts and other events throughout the sister island.