Bob, a fisherman exemplar
This is a compilation of memories of four North Village bies, when aged between 11 and 15, who benefited from a relationship with an iconic neighbourhood fisherman — Bob Battersbee.
An heroic figure, Bob took time to engage with numerous boys in that neighbourhood, exemplifying the wisdom: “It Takes a Village”.
The four of us all lived near Bob’s boats, which were kept behind Grace Church. Buddy Williams and brothers Fred “Rusty” Ingram and Irving Ingram lived in homes along the waterside, while Glenn Fubler lived on a lane opposite Grace Church.
While he was in his mid-forties at the time, all young people knew him simply as Bob.
Buddy recalls: “The only time he wore shoes was on Sundays when he went to the Gospel Hall, and Wednesday evenings for bible study. My mom told me that Bob was a Sunday school teacher.”
Bob had two personas, like comic-book heroes — his Clark Kent wardrobe was worn on Sundays and Wednesday nights. Most of the time the hero was barefoot, in well-worn pants and shirt — appropriate for taking on the challenges of the ocean alone in one of his two beautiful, Bermudian-built 15ft dinghies.
Fred recalls: “I remember the realistic paintings of fish on either side of both boats. I was flabbergasted when he told us he had painted them.”
The boats were the centre of attraction for youngsters who frequented Grace Church area for swimming. There was a natural “boat slip” that allowed Bob to pull the boats out of water daily with the willing hands of children and others.
Buddy recalls Bob as something of a Pied Piper, encouraging us to challenge ourselves: “Remember when he encouraged us all to follow him and climb along the cliffside of the area, and we made it all the way around to Irving and Rusty’s house?”
Irving added: “That became a big thing for boys around Village. I remember schoolmates from Howard Academy and boys from Brangman’s Home hooked on that challenge. It became a rite of passage for bies all over Village.”
Glenn chimes in: “It took me a number of times trying before making it.
“I’ll never forget Bob taking about ten of us — with one boat towing the other — all the way down to Castle Harbour, and we moored at a beach on Nonsuch Island and had a real adventure.”
Irving reminisces: “My most vivid memory is when Bob took a couple of us out to Challenger Banks and looking back and seeing Bermuda so far away.”
Bob Battersbee engaged the Village, fostering a sense of “vision” for the upcoming generation’s life journey.
• Glenn Fubler, of Imagine Bermuda, is joined by Fred Ingram, Irving Ingram and Buddy Williams
The African proverb “It Takes a Village to Raise a Child” speaks to a deep appreciation of the interconnected reality implicit in the growth and development of homo sapiens for millennia.
We are somewhat saddened by the reality of how humans have “progressed” to an extent that has led to a culture of “rugged individualism” and the resultant sense of isolation being widely experienced.
A collaboration of non-government and government stakeholders are working to restore that sense of community implicit in the proverb. In that regard, some local personalities are sharing their reflections on that wisdom.
There will be a “Village Gathering” staged today at Victor Scott Primary School from 4pm to 5.30pm.
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