By Erica James-King, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
ALTHOUGH FORMER Prime Minister Hugh Lawson Shearer was laid to rest on Sunday, residents of Trelawny still continue to celebrate the life of this statesman, who was born in the parish and received his early education in the parish capital.
An exhibition capturing the many moods of that illustrious son of Trelawny and his grandmother Jestina Lindo opened on Friday at Arleigh House in Falmouth and will form part of the cultural landscape in that parish capital for the Emancipation and Independence celebrations. The exhibition is slated to run until August 7. The exhibition pays tribute to Shearer who was schooled in Falmouth, and ironically in the 209 year-old Georgian building where the showcase has been mounted, Arabell Moulton-Barrett, a relative of the renowned poet Elizabeth Barrett-Browning, ran a school for five children scores of years ago.
Ninety-three-year-old Geraldine Steele from Martha Brae in the parish, is hailing the exhibition on Shearer's life. The Gleaner caught up with her while she viewed the exhibits.
"Shearer lived close to me in Martha Brae when he was growing up, I can still remember seeing him and the other boys in the community playing cricket in his grandmother's (Jestina Lindo's) yard," recalled Ms. Geraldine Steele, while disclosing that she used to love to laugh at his jokes.
Mrs. Steele says she is happy to know that many of the things she remembered most about Shearer have been captured in the photos on display.
"In summer 1968, I remember there was much jubilation when Shearer came to unveil a sign at a street in Martha Brae named after him. It was called Shearer Drive. I am glad the exhibition has photos of that occasion," stated the golden ager and former schoolmate of Shearer.
FOND MEMORIES
Relating some other fond memories of the former Prime Minister, Ms. Steele commented, "I remember when he opened the Martha Brae Postal Agency in the 1960s, the people were so relieved that for the first time they didn't have to come all the way to Falmouth for their mail. He also broke ground for the former Trelawny beach hotel."
"When I look back at how rafting has grown on the Martha Brae river over the years, Shearer must be praised for it. He was responsible for establishing it."
