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He has diverse sporting interests and this is reflected in a litany of accolades, including: • 2020 Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George KCMG for his outstanding contribution to sport • 2016 Barbados Golden Jubilee Award • 2009 Inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame • 1998 The Government of Barbados named a Primary School in his honour • 1980 Published his book ‘Man in the Middle’ • The United Kingdom bestowed on him the insignia of MBE in recognition of his contribution to Cricket • A stand at the Kensington Oval bears his name along with that of his honorary graduand batting partner, Desmond Haynes. For his tenacity to weaponise the bat, and use of the pitch to catapult a people on a global stage of excellence, the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa was conferred on Sir Cuthbert Gordon Greenidge. MR NICHOLAS BRANCKER Nicholas Brancker has used the disruptive power of music to create a cataclysmic shift in our culture, creativity, and of course, performing arts. He began his musical career at the age of three playing on the toy piano given to him by his parents and imitating the music he heard coming from the radio. Years later, under the deft guidance of Barbados’ most recognised music teacher, Janice Millington, while a teenager at Harrison College, he began his classical music training. His musical travels led him to the Middle East and Europe enabling the young artiste/musician to return to Barbados with a more versatile and diverse interpretation of music. This was the beginning of his musical journey. He would soon set-up a simple recording studio in his bedroom, Chambers Studio. As an accomplished piano, bass and keyboard player, Brancker has graced the stage of Jazz festivals regionally and internationally, East, Far East and West, played for royalty, including a Queen, a King, a couple of Princes and Princesses.
Mr Nicholas Brancker
Brancker’s magic earned him the respect of music enthu- siasts regionally and internationally receiving numerous prestigious music awards including a 1992 Grammy Award nomination for “Love is” by Sherri Winston. He has more than 3000 recordings to his name and is considered one of the driving forces behind the evolution of ragga soca music in the region. He has painted from a musical palate of expression, with stars like Edwin Yearwood, Alison Hinds, Red Plastic Bag, TC, Rupee from Barbados; David Rudder, Altantik, Surface, Machel Montano from Trinidad and Tobago; Dread & The Bald Head from Antigua; Nu Direct from St Vincent; DN5 from St Lucia; and the now deceased Arrow from Montserrat; to name a few. In the late nineties he recorded his very own album, In Contempt, where he pushed back against being categorised in any single box. He explained, “ The name of the album ‘In Contempt’ should be seen as me being in contempt of being labelled as a Jazz, R&B or Classical artiste, I am just an artist ”. In 1995 he was awarded the “Barbados Service Star” from the Government of Barbados. His electric thought and influence, through music, is summa- rised in this quote “Right now I’m inspired by the sounds of ordinary people’s every-day experiences and the music they create in going about their business.” In recognition of his unapologetically creative account of our Caribbean region, our peoples, of past, present and future, the degree of Doctor of Letters, honoris causa was conferred on Mr Nicolas Brancker.
THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES CAVE HILL CAMPUS ANNUAL REPORT TO COUNCIL 2021/2022
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