Role models for all
We strongly suspect that apart from their roles as broadcasters, the late Messrs Peter Abrahams and Lindy Delapenha were very dissimilar in terms of personalities and interests.
However, the two who died recently, within days of each other — Mr Abrahams at 97 and Mr Delapenha at 89 — will be long remembered for their outstanding contributions in a range of areas.
A journalist, author and thoughtful commentator on social and political issues, the South African-born Mr Abrahams came to Jamaica in the 1950s and stayed.
He skilfully used the pen to great effect to advance global awareness of dehumanising racial oppression and the fascist system of Apartheid in his native South Africa, and he also championed the cause for decolonisation throughout Africa and elsewhere.
Caught up in the always fascinating and intricate web cast by life in Jamaica, Mr Abrahams became a voice of reason respected by all.
At a time of only two radio stations, RJR and JBC, Mr Abrahams’ evening commentaries became a must-hear for people of every stripe; from the lowly casual labourer, small farmer and factory worker to the champions of business, public administration and politics.
He seemed always to strike a note of good sense and moderation, while remaining essentially progressive at core. Indeed, his thoughts and suggestions consistently formed a kind of template, an august standard, for a young nation striving to find its way.
Educated at Munro College, atop Potsdam in the hills of Malvern, Mr Delapenha was the supreme athlete and could have excelled at any sport. In the end, football turned out to be his true calling, as having joined the British armed forces he was seen by club scouts parading his skills.
He became the first Jamaican to play professional football in England, breaking the race/colour barrier in the process. His skill, speed and goalscoring prowess won great admiration as Mr Delapenha campaigned at Derby County, Middlesbrough and Portsmouth. Some will even argue that he was the most talented Jamaican footballer ever to play in England.
Certainly, Mr Delapenha paved the way for the acceptance of black overseas players in British professional football.
On his return to Jamaica in the 1960s, Mr Delapenha joined the JBC Sports Department and rapidly became a household name on radio and television with his insights and great knowledge of competitive sport proving extremely valuable. Long before the famous Brazilian coach Mr Rene Simoes passionately lamented the poor state of Jamaican football fields, Mr Delapenha consistently said that it was unfair to players to expect good football on such surfaces.
Relaxed and good humoured, with a dominant sense of fun, Mr Delapenha was made for broadcasting. No surprise, then, that with the passage of time his role broadened to include aspects of programming other than sport, not least the popular Television Jamaica show, Morning Time.
This newspaper can say with great certainty that Messrs Abrahams and Delapenha have lived their lives in a manner that should be an inspiration to all Jamaicans.