Noel Lloyd story published in UK magazine
Japhix - Friday, November 4th, 2011 at 11:47 AM
NOEL LLOYD: A PATRIOTIC MAN, the documentary about the extraordinary life of Noel Lloyd is featured in the October edition of United Kingdom’s popular sports magazine, The Square Ball.
The national hero’s successful opposition to British developer Kenneth Bates’ Wickham Cay and Anegada development projects in 1968 is told in a 10-page special titled ‘Positive Action Movement’ in the magazine published in Leeds, Northern England. It also appears on the publication’s website.
Using interviews and research material from the documentary, the article explains Bates, now the chairman of Leeds United Football Club, planned exclusive luxury leisure projects which excluded Virgin Islanders, the granting of a 199-year lease to reclaim land on Wickham’s Cay and his desire to control three quarters of Anegada.
Writer Daniel Chapman also dwells on Noel’s legacy, highlighting his activism and sacrifices – the one-man protest in Road Town, forming the Positive Action Movement, organising and leading the historic 1968 march to government house, and his arrest and imprisonment for treason.
Chapman wrote: “When Ken Bates took over his homeland in 1968 Noel Lloyd led the fight to take it back.”
The British writer said his readers now want to know more about Noel.
“The reaction so far has been really good. A lot of people have been surprised that Ken Bates could be an even worse person than they thought; and one person suggested that Noel Lloyd’s name should be sung at Leeds United games. People have also asked how they can see the film.”
With the UK, a key travel market, this feature is an excellence promotion of the territory’s rich history.
“Noel’s story now has a new audience – the UK. We were approached by the magazine a few months ago and were happy to contribute to the article. Noel’s life was one of selflessness, sacrifice and determination. He played a crucial role in preventing segregation in the Virgin Islands. We are thrilled the accomplishment of this national hero is now known by print and online readers of The Square Ball. The article is insightful and well written and I encourage you all to read it,” says producer Andrea Wilson.
Noel lost his battle with cancer on August 3, 2008 in Florida, United States. In March 2009, his activism was nationally recognised – the Palm Grove Park in Road Town was renamed the Noel Lloyd’s Positive Action Movement Park.
The 90-minute documentary celebrates his amazing life, capturing his experiences growing up in Fahie Hill, Tortola, serving in the Royal Air Force, his African adventures, struggles in business and activism.
NOEL LLOYD: A PATRIOCTIC MAN features revealing interviews with Premier Hon. Ralph T. O’Neal, Opposition Leader the Hon. Dr Orlando Smith, Ex Governor David Pearey, Noel’s brother Alfred Lloyd, daughter Sarah Lloyd and ex-wife Nerida Cruz-Velez. Other interviewees included Positive Action Movement members Patsy Lake, Wilfred Smith, Musa Mohammed and George Malone along with admirers Deputy Premier, the Hon. Dancia Penn and politicians Mark Vanterpool, Vincent Scatliffe and Sowande Uhuru.
The documentary was successfully launched at U.P’s Cineplex on October 4, 2010 and is now regularly broadcast on JTV Channel 55.
“We did this documentary because we wanted Noel’s legacy preserved. We wanted his fight for equality in the Virgin Islands and personal sacrifices known by the younger generation at a time when young men and women in the territory need more positive role models. This is a man who realised something was wrong and took positive action to protect the rights and future of all Virgin Islanders,” adds producer Amanda Wilson.
On December 3, 2011 Noel would have celebrated his 75th birthday. His legacy lives on.
The production team once again thanks everyone who contributed to the successful completion of this project, especially the Lloyd Family and the Social Development Department.
This article was posted in its entirety as received by bvinews.com. This media house does not correct any spelling or grammatical error within press releases and commentaries. The views expressed therein are not necessarily those of bvinews.com, its sponsors or advertisers.
16 Comments
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mi cnt
Noel was not honored when he was alive; the belated recognition came at the sunset of his years here on earth ( a nursing home in Florida). He was shunned and ostracized;most of us are guilty for this despicable behavior and attitude. But it is not surprising. The Bible did states that a man is not honored in his country.
Noel and PAM delayed the wholesale give away of Wickhams Cay and most of Anegada. And were it not for the courage of these brave and unselfish Virgin Islanders the Cay and Anegada would have been partitioned and restricted to Virgin Islanders; they would have been let on as help. Nonetheless, despite Noel and PAM’s battles, VI land is being gobble up by outsiders acre by acre.
In the not too distance future, many of us will drive by or sail by and lament that my grandparents use to own this piece of the rock. Land gone and money, and what do we have? Nothing. History is repeating itself: AC Frett is being treated the same way for talking truth. I may be long gone before the total sell out occurs but this observation can be put in a capsule and opened in 50 years,
to bad they took him to england and brought him back not the same
This is the kinds of promotion the Virgin Islands needs. We must focus more on the accomplishments of our people. You go to the US and the UK and everywhere there are museums proudly promoting the country’s history and its peoples. Where is our National Museum? Congratulations Social Development Department for supporting this project and I hope to see other programs on our heroes from producers Andrea and Amanda and their team. RIP Noel and thank you for standing up for us.
Hi – thanks for this article, and I’m glad people are happy to hear of my article about Noel Lloyd. He was a great man, and I really enjoyed learning about him and bringing his story to the UK.
If anyone would like to buy the magazine, we sell a digital download version for £1, paid by Paypal. You can get it from this link: http://www.thesquareball.net/shop/back-issues/2011-2012/issue-4/
I also wrote a short piece about Noel for our website, which you can read here: http://www.thesquareball.net/?p=3930
Best wishes,
Daniel Chapman.
Im glad that they giving him all his recognition and even back up to the main land (england) but the thing is wa gets me upset is dat wen he was alive no one paid him no mind!!! evryone had him as a crazy man, and i remember him clearly wen i used to go primary school, wen he came around everyone used to turn their face the other way, den wen he passed evryone wanted to call him a hero and get a lil shine off of his name, its so sad to see now after he was tryin so hard to reach out to ppl wen he was alive no one used to study him, only til after he died, hypocrisy kills
I remember that too. When I was a child he was always talked about as if he was a crazy person. I’m ashamed that I never found out more about him until he had passed. I would have loved to talk to him about those days and to hear some of the stories he could have told. Sad.
You aren’t the only one. From the time he come in Highschool ‘pungin’ a goat skin drum to hearing talks about how he light the radio station next to Virgin Queen afire because them aint let he host an ‘back to africa’ segement to having people tell you “Keep far from pana before he buss you a clout”
Whenever I saw this dude, I just chalk he up to another person who sadly lost control of their mind and went crazy. “Give your mother soup when she alive, not flowers when she dead” Is the phrase that comes to mind, man.
We (The younger) didn’t know no better cuz we wasn’t informed. A bit late, but hey, Thanks Noel.
Can’t the video be posted on youtube or something? Those of us who live outside the BVI don’t get JTV.
That is awesome!
Real People do real things.
RIP Noel Lloyd.
Where can we get this magazine in the BVI?
This man and his comrades fought for these Virgin Islands but we just letting these politicians dig out we eye, sell we country and lie, lie, lie. Shouldn’t we be outraged and stand up for our rights. We used to be a proud, hard working set of people but now it look like we just greedy, lazy and materialistic pathetic people. We look like we prefer to be given a few bucks here and there rather than being taught how to make a real living. What are we teaching our children. Props to Mr. Lloyd’s memory and to his family a TRUE Patriarch.
“This is a man who realised something was wrong and took positive action to protect the rights and future of all Virgin Islanders,” adds producer Amanda Wilson.
Oh how we have lost almost all that he fought for. Shameful.
Instead of all those music videos and entertainment shows this is the quality of programs we need to see on our local stations. We have so many stories to tell about our local heroes. Noel was not given the recognition he deserved until he died but better late than never. This is indeed a great promotional tool for the territory. The BVI has more than sun, sand and sea to offer our tourists. We have a rich history that should be promoted more. Thank you Noel for saying hell no to Ken Bates and protecting our lovely territory and thank you Andrea and Amanda. Let’s not wait until they too are dead before we recognize their work.
This is very good news.
This is good news. If you can get the Leeds United fans singing about Noel LLoyd that would be a great advertisement for the BVI and let more people in the UK know about Ken Bates and his dirty deeds. Its a shame this wasnt done when Bates owned Chelsea and the Chelsea fans got behind Noels legacy.
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