40 Years in Grenada
16th February 2025 marks 40 years since Leo first stepped foot in Grenada. This is Leo’s story in his own words
It’s September 1984, and oddly, Grenada is calling
“Life has been just too exciting with you, Leo, so I am leaving for a schoolteacher who reads poetry to me.” This was the sentence uttered by my wife of thirteen years, Cathryn. At that moment, I realised I was toast.
Over the next few months, lots of torment occurred, and the deep gloom was shared among our immediate family members. The mood for me was far from positive, but a glimmer of hope arose within a conversation with a neighbour in Sweffling, the village in rural Suffolk where we both resided.
David de Gale told me he had spent the previous year in Grenada at his family’s rum distillery estate. There was a revolution in Grenada from March 1979 to October 1983, and the estate became the government's property. Upon the fall of the revolution, David and his family were given back the River Antoine Estate in St Patrick’s parish in the north of the island.
David told me that his lawyer skills did not apply to running the estate, but as I ran businesses, surely my ability to run companies would assist in getting River Antoine on a good path. He was candid, stating the RA needed capital, and hopefully, I would visit and possibly buy the estate. I told David that he had caught me at the one time in my business life when I could say yes to going to Grenada, so we agreed to discuss a date to visit the West Indies.
“He had caught me at the one time in my business life when I could say yes to going to Grenada”
Leo at River Antoine Rum Distillery in April 1985
On Saturday, 16th February 1985, I arrived with David on Grenadian soil
Within a few hours, I had new experiences that shocked my senses, and I realised that the four years of revolution had taken a toll on the Grenadian population and the infrastructure. I could see so much needed to be done, so there was massive potential everywhere.
Everyone I met had their own story to tell about what happened to them and their family during the days of the revolution. I felt privileged to listen to history that had only recently occurred. We travelled north to River Antoine Estate, which had 200 acres and 200 plus employees, and I witnessed work procedures that were the same as they had been one hundred years ago. It was interesting talking to the people at RA and trying to find a realistic way forward if I were to get involved with the company.
“I had new experiences that shocked my senses, and I realised that the four years of revolution had taken a toll on the Grenadian population and the infrastructure”
Leo at Fort George, Grenada c.1985
Our accommodation was Chez B villa located at Bathway Beach, about 10 minutes away from RA by scrambler motorcycle, the best form of transport, as the roads were mostly made up of large potholes. It was at the villa that, on Sunday, 3rd March 1985, David invited the Ramdhanny family to visit for afternoon tea, and so I met Lilian for the first time. I also met her brother, Lyden, who rapidly became my close friend, ally, and advisor on all things Grenadian.
After a few weeks of exploration, adventure, challenges and trying to work out if it was possible to make River Antoine work for me, it was time to go back to the UK and deal with the sale of my home and other matters in the aftermath of my divorce. David and I travelled to the airport in St Georges via Grenville and stopped to say farewell to the Ramdhanny’s at their department store.
Several family members were there, but one comment stood out when Lilian said to me, “You will be back.”
We drove to the airport, and when checking in, we were informed that our inter-island flight to Barbados would be hours late. Staying at the airport would not be comfortable, so David suggested we go to his cousin’s hotel, which was located a few minutes away.
The entrance to Calabash, c.1980
The approach to Calabash was by a side lane from the main L’Anse aux Epines road. It seemed like a tunnel as the trees and bamboo arched over and joined; then, at the end of the darkness, we drove through the Calabash arch into a sunny wonderland. We met David’s cousin, Charles de Gale, and we walked around the property, during which I sensed a good atmosphere and thought, ‘People have been happy here.’ It was time well spent at Calabash, and all too soon, we had to return to the airport.
“I sensed a good atmosphere and thought; People have been happy here. ”
Calabash grounds, c.1980
Back in the UK, David was keen to engage me in discussions about the River Antoine Estate
I explained that I had to find somewhere to live as my house was sold. David informed me that he had to have minor leg surgery, which could take some time for him to recover. He did not like leaving RA for too long, so he asked me if I would go back to Grenada as a consultant in return for the use of a cottage the family had in Little Bealings near Woodbridge. Over the next few days, we came to a workable arrangement; I moved into the cottage and returned to Grenada on Monday, 29th April 1985.
The River Antoine manager told me about a government budget presentation at the Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, 14th May and suggested we attend. Witnessing the financial workings of the government was fascinating and thoroughly engaging.
On the way down the stairs, I turned around to see who tapped me on the shoulder, and I heard the words, “I told you that you would be back.”
The following afternoon, I was at Ramdhanny’s Hardware store in Grenville, asking the Accountant, Lilian Ramdhanny, for credit for the paint I wanted RA to use to paint the buildings, which were all in a deplorable state. It was explained that RA was not a reasonable credit risk, so I would have to put my request in writing for consideration. The negotiations over the next few days were a lot of fun and very productive. RA received credit for the required paint, and Lilian and I gained much more.
Leo & Annie on their wedding day, 31st July 1986
Lilian, also known by the family as Annie, and I got married in Grenville on Thursday, 31st July 1986; by this time, it was apparent that buying the River Antoine Estate was not feasible.
So on Monday, 1st September 1986, I visited Charles de Gale at The Calabash Hotel and told him I wanted to start discussions in my endeavour to buying the property. Fortunately, Charles was open to negotiations, which I considered was due to his age and going through long, low occupancy periods of the revolution.
Leo and Annie in the back office at Calabash, 1987
During the following 12 months, I continued long-distance negotiations with Charles, who I realised never confirmed anything to me in writing, so on Wednesday, 22nd April 1987, I flew from the UK to see Charles, his wife and his lawyer in Florida, returning on Saturday, 25th April with a letter of confirmation of the sale of Calabash. I also had a letter to give to his lawyer in Grenada stating that Charles was selling The Calabash Hotel to us.
To follow up with more good news, Annie delivered our first child, Adèle, in the UK on Tuesday, 12th May. Adèle’s first home was Homeleigh Cottage in Little Bealings before we returned to Grenada on Wednesday, 24th June.
Leo, Annie & Adele in Grenada
“On Tuesday, 1st September 987, a year after negotiations to buy Calabash opened, Annie and I, with Adèle on my hip, walked into the hotel as its new owners. This was the first day of another Grenadian adventure and the start of our pursuit of hotel excellence at Calabash. ”
Leo with all his children at Calabash: Matthew, Ben, Adele, Beth & Bobbie, c. 1996
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