20 Feb Victor Theodore Cumberbatch
Victor Theodore Cumberbatch, affectionately known as “Cumbers” of ClearJoy Nursing Home, Free Hill, Josey Hill, St….
Victor Theodore Cumberbatch, affectionately known as “Cumbers” of ClearJoy Nursing Home, Free Hill, Josey Hill, St. Lucy and formerly of Bishop’s Road, St. Lucy entered peacefully into rest at age 91. Former teacher at the Coleridge and Parry School.
Son of the late Gibeon Roach and Elise Cumberbatch.
Father of June Yearwood, Michael, Judy and Carl Cumberbatch.
Grandfather of Shaunna Yearwood.
Great-grandfather of Chloe and Avery Yearwood-Broomes.
Brother of Violet Rock, Gwendolyn Cumberbatch, Eugene Kellman, and the late Phillip Stevenson.
Uncle of Henderson Springer, Michael Roach, Dave Rock, Ronald, Anthony, Joyce and Frank Cumberbatch, Denise Cole, John Stevenson (UK) and the late Ian Kellman.
Father-in-law of Valentine Yearwood, Jaqueline and Venta Cumberbatch.
Relative ofthe Cumberbatch family from Harrises, St. Lucy.
Friend of Stanley Jordan (UK), Leopold Belgrave, Marcia Greaves, Osbert Ifill and Margaret Griffith.
The funeral of the late Victor Theodore Cumberbatch leaves Earl’s Funeral Home, Half Moon Fort, St. Lucy, on Wednesday, 22nd February 2023 at 1:30 p.m. for St. Clement’s Anglican Church, Lowlands, St. Lucy where relatives and friends are asked to meet for the Service of Thanksgiving and interment at 3:30 p.m.
The organist and choir are kindly asked to attend.
Floral tributes may be sent to Earl’s Funeral Home no later than 1:00 p.m. onWednesday.
Funeral arrangements entrusted to IRG Funerals Incorporated.
Colleen Harvey
Condolences to his family and friends. May he R I P and R I G.
Michael Bowen
My sincere condolences to his family, friends and members of St. Clements Anglican Church. A very nice person, a mentor and friend. I could never forget you guidance you gave me and so many others. Gone but will never be forgotten. Forever in our hearts.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace and rise in glory. Amen.🙏🏾
Jefferson Broomes
Condolences to the entire family circle, R.I.P,,
From Jefferson, Orlena, Anna-Maria and Jefferson II Broomes.
Of Barrie, Ontario, Canada
Manderville Corbin
A tribute to Victor Cumberbatch (1931-2023)
My very earliest recollection of Mr. Victor Cumberbatch was being aware that he gave evening Woodwork classes at St Clements Boys’ school (or, senior school) in the 1960’s.
Those were the days when there was no automatic progression to secondary school and those who failed the common entrance exams, stayed on at the primary level and moved on to senior classes which also provided some manual skills like gardening to prepare for school leaving.
His classes gave many a hands-on approach to carpentry which would not have been otherwise possible.
After the refurbishment of that part of the derelict school building some years ago, I quietly wondered if that room ought not to have been renamed after him.
Draughtsman
When he returned from studying in Canada, I’m aware that he also drew house plans for the immediate community and beyond.
Mentor, Kimberley Club
As I understand it, he was a mentor and perhaps a founding member of Kimberley Club which formed in 1966. Even then, he would have been a respected older member of the community for schoolboys just leaving secondary school.
While its highly likely he would have played friendly football at Rockfield, it was his presence on the field as a referee I know and remember most.
At one of Kimberley Club’s anniversary photographic exhibitions, there was a photograph of him just simply titled “The Veteran”.
That stuck with me.
Before that, it was Windsor Club and cricket (formed in 1955) and he was a founding member.
Much more than that, he was a regular part of the Rockfield Community Centre where his presence guaranteed an atmosphere of respect. Off the cricket field, he would be playing dominoes or table tennis. His loudest shout was barely more than his regular speaking volume. I seem to recall that he was the occasional cricket umpire.
His interest in the sea is now well documented in the eulogy and I’m aware how he loved “Hulling” and was one of the early pioneers of this sport at Goat House Bay.
Back then, it was an activity that would involve many boys and men who would gather from around 8:30 a.m. until an empty stomach took them home.
Humour:
Yes, he knew how to laugh and appreciated a decent, respectful joke.
Good example. At CP where he taught, everyone coming to one particular class noticed that there was a very small, very neat and noteworthy map of Barbados in the left upper corner of the chalkboard (blackboard).
Someone said, “I know sir didn’t draw that!”.
There was a characteristic twitch of his mouth as he said, “and why I could not have drawn it?”. He must have known what was coming!
“Sir, you’re too short!” The class erupted in laughter. He smiled and waited for the class to settle.
St Clements Anglican Church
As we said our final goodbyes on February 24, 2023, It seems to me that the church choir paid an adequate and deserving honour to him by giving one of their best performances I’ve heard. The final guard of honour at the gravesite spoke volumes.
While he was described as a “Jack of all Trades’, I’d rather offer the view that he was a committed church member who was willing to go above and beyond and to do whatever was either left undone or avoided and so ensure that church events went smoothly.
“There’s no progress if the student does not surpass the master.”
Communities need to find more like him!