Mr. Lester Sinclair Vaughan

The National Pledge was written by Mr. Lester Vaughan, a renowned educator.

BLP COLUMN: Tribute to Lester Vaughan - Friday 19, September-2003Barbados has lost a gentleman whom every Barbadian would consider to be a great son of the soil.Party stalwart and educator Lester Sinclair Vaughan lived all of his adult years making a considerable contribution to the development of Barbados in a very meaningful way.

Without doubt he has left an indelible impression on young minds not only of Barbadian children but also those at the Castries Anglican Primary School in St Lucia where he served as head master from 1944 to 1954.

This recipient of the Silver Crown of Merit was born in St Simons, St Andrew, in 1910, and during his career received training at the Rawle Institute, Codrington College and the Booker T. Washington Tuskegee Institute in the United States.The highlight of his career came when he was honoured by having the island's newest secondary school at Cane Garden, St Thomas, named after him.

He was the second of five children and began what was to be an illustrious career in the teaching profession at the age of 17 as a pupil teacher at the Chalky Mount Mixed School.Mr Vaughan taught at St Andrew's Boys, St Silas School and served as head master at Holy Innocent.

Having spent many years in the teaching service, Mr Vaughan was appointed education officer in 1965, a post from which he retired in 1970.But he did not allow retirement to put an end to his contribution to the educational process.

In addition to his achievements as an educator, Lester Vaughan conducted numerous training courses for the Ministry of Education and put all his efforts behind the Government's special project, which started in 1976, to educate children until they reached sixteen years old.

This venture gave hope for a brighter future to many children who would have had to leave school and probably end up in menial jobs.No longer were they forced to leave school at fourteen years old and forfeit a formal education.Mr Vaughan was unwavering in his commitment to the ideals and goals of the founding fathers of the Barbados Labour Party and continued to lend his support and skills to advance those ideals whenever he was called upon to do so.

Lester Vaughan also had a passion for music and was an avid Anglican.He trained numerous church choirs and became church organist at St Simon in 1938.He also played at St Silas for years, Holy Innocent, St Thomas, Holy Trinity in Castries and retired while at St Matthews.Mr Vaughan will also be well remembered for being able to play the music bottles which he did at several concerts.

His accomplishments were many but he will surely be best remembered for having given us our National Pledge.It is clear that by his living he did credit to his nation wherever he went.

Our condolences go out to his remaining relatives and children.

Rest in Peace Comrade Vaughan.

BLP COLUMN: Tribute to Lester VaughanBarbados has lost a gentleman whom every Barbadian would consider to be a great son of the soil.Party stalwart and educator Lester Sinclair Vaughan lived all of his adult years making a considerable contribution to the development of Barbados in a very meaningful way.