Peter Espeut | John Binns demanded excellence

Almost everybody has their teacher-who-affected-my-life stories. One of mine is about John Binns, who was laid to rest two days ago.

When I went to Campion College in 1964, John Binns – just 20 years old – was the accompanist for the school Glee Club of which I was a member; we sang at Campion’s first graduation exercises in 1964. He was a great musician, as so many testified in tribute at his funeral.

Mr Binns offered music classes in playing the recorder (a small wind instrument) to students, and I became one of his pupils. Looking back, it is clear to me that one method of discipline inculcated in young people is through playing musical instruments; and one way of getting people to work together is when they are trained to sing together in harmony in a choir. It requires practice, practice, practice!

John Binns taught discipline – not with a swish of the cane, but through drilling in instrumental and choral music. And his demand that we get it right created a demand for excellence.

In second form, he was my form master and English teacher. He used his own books to create a class library, from which he freely lent; and we had to write book reports, so we actually had to read.

At the early age of 11, I read his copies of the Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchan, The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy, and several others. To read a book from start to finish requires discipline. If one’s school experience does not lead to a love of reading, then all sorts of doors close. Teachers like John Binns open doors for those under their care.

Even while he was a teacher, he was also a student; he was enrolled at what was then the Jamaica School of Music, doing advanced work in playing the organ. As his exams approached, after school he would drive to his church – the (old) Pembroke Hall Methodist – to practise on their organ. He needed the assistance of someone who could read music, who could follow where he was playing, and to turn the pages of his sheet music; I did so on a number of occasions. It was from that church that he was laid to rest two days ago. It brought back good memories.

After I left Campion, I only saw him occasionally. I learnt at his funeral that he subsequently went to England for even higher studies in music, and that he directed several excellent choirs, including the Methodist Chorale and the choir and orchestra at Campion. He took several of his choirs on tours to the USA, Europe and across the Caribbean, where they did well.

A DISCIPLINED PERSON

He expected discipline of us, and himself was a disciplined person. I also learnt at his funeral that he began to teach at Campion straight out of sixth form at Kingston College, and that while he was teaching me, he was reading for his bachelor’s degree at The University of the West Indies (UWI). In fact, we both graduated in 1968 – me from Campion, and he from the UWI.

Later in life, I learnt the stress – and the discipline – involved in working full-time while studying at the same time. He was not passing on to us what he did not do himself.

He talked the talk, and walked the walk.

I also learnt at his funeral that some years later, he got married and had four children. In the remembrance, one of his sons described John Binns the father. It sounded like an extension of the John Binns I knew as teacher, who fathered many of his students.

With his encouragement, I also went on to study guitar at the Jamaica School of Music and elsewhere, and played in a band which did two overseas tours. Names of persons he inspired, who had much more illustrious musical careers than mine, were listed.

Teachers like John Binns who build character are real nation builders. I hereby pay him tribute.

Peter Espeut is a musician and graduate of Campion College. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.