Another major milestone is approaching for the National Parks Authority and it will be using an entire year to celebrate the occasion highlighted by the recognition of key figures in the English Harbour community.
Sixty years ago, the gates of the Nelson’s Dockyard reopened as the centre of Caribbean yachting in a stunning historical setting.
Between 1725 and 1899, the Dockyard served a valuable and strategic British military base, leaving behind a legacy carved in stone and brick. Despite briefly being used during World Wars I and II to train the defence forces and recruits, the Dockyard slowly fell into decay.
However, starting in 1949, the Dockyard received new life, thanks to the new and rapidly expanding charter yacht industry started by Commander V.E.B. Nicholson and family.
With the new industry came the first stabilization and restoration works of the old buildings. Led by the Friends of English Harbour and through donor and grant support, the Dockyard received new life as the heart of Caribbean yachting.
With such a historic setting, the Friends of English Harbour decided to formally open the Dockyard as a yachting and tourism site on the 14th of November 1961.
Since then, the Dockyard has undergone several transformations while maintaining the historic fabric of the site. These milestones include becoming a National Park in 1984, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016.
To celebrate this long history, the National Parks Authority will pay tribute to the Antiguans and Barbudans who played a pivotal role in bringing the Dockyard to international prominence as the premier yachting destination in the Caribbean.
Activities to observe the occasion will be held under the theme ‘Carved into History, Anchored by Community’ and will begin on Sunday 14th November with a service of thanksgiving at the Baxter Memorial Methodist Church in English Harbour.
It’s in this connection that the events will represent a conscious effort to tell the stories of the talents and efforts of community members in all spheres of contribution to the development of the Dockyard.
The NPA will be using the next several months to shine a light on the work of some of the influential members of English Harbour as well as bring special attention to the unique skills of bead workers whose souvenir pieces are celebrated and sought after up to today.
The yachting industry also created opportunity for many members of the community to learn a trade such as Joinery, Varnishing, and Sail Making, which they honed into a meaningful profession to provide for their livelihoods. Their stories will also be shared as a means of recognising their invaluable contribution to the history and preservation of the Dockyard and the National Park.
The activities will be released in full via social media and in the press shortly.
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