Carnival and tourism have an intrinsic bond and the common factor is people.
And there could not be any better manifestation of this than what has been done by the organisers of the opening parade for this year’s festival to a Scottish couple.
When chairperson Dulcie Looby –Greene was thinking about someone to carry the banner under the theme: ‘Carnival uniting people’, a vision struck her.
What about that duo who have been coming to the festival for the past 15 years, dancing all-night long at Lions – the Den for Carnival dances – and making themselves happy.
Hugh Campbell, a Queen’s Counsel, and his wife Jane, from Edinburgh, Scotland, first visited these shores in 1989, and when they returned four years later they have been back every year, 47 times overall.
Hawksbill by rex resorts has been home for the Campbells when they visit Antigua sometime as much as three times in a year.
“I would know that they would always come and go to Lions,” Looby-Greene said. “We called one of the guys (Krokuss or Bubai or Lord Satalyte) from Burning Flames and he told us they usually stay at Hawksbill. So we called the hotel and they gave us their contact.
“I called them and they gladly accepted the honour. I don’t know them personally. They just came up in my mind,” she added.
And the Campbell’s are not done yet.
“We are putting them on float on Monday,” Looby-Greene said.
That will be the icing on the cake as Hugh and Jane were awarded honouary citizenship during last Saturday’s opening ceremony at Carnival City.
“Although we do not have the constitutional right to do so, the Carnival Committee, and specifically the Opening Parade Committee will nevertheless declare Mr. & Mrs. Hugh Campbell, as Honorary Antiguan & Barbudan citizens,” the chairperson declared to crowd inside the ground and those watching live on ABS TV.
“We were thrilled. We were honoured. We were privileged,” Hugh said of the recognition.
“It is wonderful. I don’t know what it means. It’s lovely. It’s the loveliest recognition one could ever have. We didn’t ask for it. We love Antigua so much. The people are just wonderful, so friendly, and so open to everyone.”
After their initial visit, the parents of three sons and seven grandchildren returned in 1993 with their children but just watched the Carnival procession.
In 1994, they went to Trinidad for carnival in February and in the summer of 1994, they returned to Antigua with their children and played mas with Dynamics Mas Troupe.
“We danced to the music of Edimelo and the Vision Band. It was ‘digi, digi; push back pan Charlie,” Hugh recalled with alacrity. “Ever since we have come back for more.”
The next year, they played mas with Legacy, and have been back for carnival every year since. The family also spent the Millennium in Antigua.
Hugh said it was the Hawksbill staff who introduced them to Lions.
“We loved the way people danced at Lion’s. The sheer exuberance of it all. It’s what you feel. When you have a wife who loves to dance what can you do? The Hawksbill staff are some of the most wonderful people in the world.”
They were awarded a plaque for their dancing skills at Lions in 1999 by Antigua and Barbuda’s road march king, ‘Sir’ Oungku Edwards, formerly of Burning Flames and now leader of Red Hot Flames, the breakaway band.
The Campbell’s proudly display the plaque on the wall of their residence, just above a letter from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth ll.
Hugh cycles to the High Court each day with his iPod, playing all the carnival tunes from Antigua.
After the sun took its toll on the couple during the parade, they quickly recharged their batteries for the Den.
“Is the sea wet?” Hugh responded when asked if they have been to Lions yet. “We have been there Tuesday and last night (Wednesday). We also took in the Melting Pot.”
It would be somewhat of a farewell when they leave on August 5.
